India is known for its rich biodiversity and is fortunate to have several endemic species from different classes of vertebrates. India is home to 7.5% of the global fish diversity, with 91 endemic species of ray finned fishes, the actinopterygians. Some fish species have never been reported until recently, and one such example is the long-horned Cowfish (Ostracidae), best known for inhabiting only certain areas of the Indo-Pacific oceans. However, it has been reported recently in the Bay of Bengal, but never on the west coast of India. This is the first time this fish has been found on the west coast of India. Given its morphology, the migration seems highly improbable since it can only endure lethargic swimming. In this article, we have explored the role of other external forces that could have contributed to its journey to the west coast of India. As such, we recognize the role of Super Cyclone Ockhi as a vital force in determining the expansion of its range. The fact that its first collection coincides with the passage of Cyclone Ockhi on the west coast of India greatly supports our hypothesis. A year later, another specimen was recovered from a location very close to the first, indicating the successful establishment of Lacturia cornuta in its new environment. Related morphometric and meristic studies of our specimens are consistent with previous studies reported in the Bay of Bengal.
Dominant role of winds near Sri Lanka in driving seasonal sea level variations along the west coast of India