Pomacentrus bangladeshius

Lore & Background

Pomacentrus bangladeshius was identified in a study on the biodiversity of fish associated with the corals of Saint Martin's Island, conducted by researchers from Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University between 2018 and 2019 using DNA barcoding. The species was officially described in 2020 from three specimens. Its body color varies from olive to dark brown, with a dark brown premaxilla. Adults typically have a yellow iris and a bronze ring around the pupil. The maxilla reaches the front of the pupil, the lower jaw is longer than the upper, and the teeth are incisiform to conical. The tongue is triangular and positioned far back. Gill rakers are long and cylindrical, and the nostril is rounded, aligned with the lower edge of the pupil. The opercle has a flat spine, and scales extend to the nostrils, with no scales on the preorbital and suborbital areas. An axillary scale is found above the pelvic fin base. It has a single, interrupted lateral line with 18 or 19 scales.

Reader's Guide

Pomacentrus bangladeshius is a marine fish that inhabits shallow reef flats around rock and coral outcrops, and is only found on Saint Martin's Island in southeastern Bangladesh. Its description in 2020 from three specimens, based on research conducted between 2018 and 2019, highlights the role of DNA barcoding in documenting coral-associated fish biodiversity. The species is known only from this single island, making it a localized endemic. Its morphological features, such as the yellow iris and bronze ring around the pupil, along with fin and scale counts, distinguish it within the genus Pomacentrus. The study by researchers from Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University underscores the importance of Saint Martin's Island as a biodiversity hotspot. The species' restricted distribution and recent description contribute to the understanding of damselfish diversity in the Bay of Bengal.

Did You Know?

• Pomacentrus bangladeshius was described in 2020 from three specimens.
• The species was identified using DNA barcoding between 2018 and 2019.