Three new species of the congrid eel genus Gnathophis (Anguilliformes: Congridae) from the Arabian Sea.

Three new species of the congrid eel genus Gnathophis viz., Gnathophisajithi, Gnathophisanilmohapatrai, and Gnathophisarabicus are described herein. Gnathophisajithi is collected from 264-450 m depth along the Arabian Sea and differs from its congeners in having 2nd, and 7th-8th through 13th-15th pores elevated; small eye, 15.7-17.7% HL; lateral-line pores before anus 27-33, stomach grey to black. Gnathophisanilmohapatrai is collected from 264 m depth and differs from its congeners in that the lateral-line pores above pectoral fin are not elevated, lateral-line pores before anus 36-40, stomach pale. Gnathophisarabicus is collected from 450-600 m depth and differs from its congeners in that the lateral-line pores above pectoral fin are not elevated, lateral-line pores before anus 36-41; SO pores 5, SO5 absent, SO6 present, stomach pale and black posteriorly. Further, CO1 mtDNA sequences are generated and discussed with the sequences available at public domain.