Rare records of reef-associated fishes from the West Bengal coast

Surgeonfishes (family Acanthuridae) and angelfishes (family Pomacanthidae) are primarily associated with coral reefs and rocky habitats in tropical and subtropical seas. Although many species have wide geographic distributions, their occurrence outside reef environments is relatively infrequent and is seldom documented from turbid, soft-bottom coastal regions. The northern Bay of Bengal is characterised by strong riverine influence, high turbidity, and predominantly sandy-silty substrates, conditions that differ markedly from typical reef habitats (Shetye et al., 1996; Michels et al., 2003)