RESUMEN
A new sandperch is described from 3 specimens from off Parangipettai, southeastern India. It can be separated from its congeners in having a combination of dorsal-fin rays V, 21â22; anal-fin rays I, 17â18; pectoral-fin rays 17â18; pored lateral-line scales 53â54; median predorsal scales 7; transverse scale rows 4/13; gill rakers on 1st gill arch 15â17; single row of stout teeth on vomer; no teeth on palatine; 3 pairs of enlarged canines at front of lower jaw; opercle uniformly dark brownish; blade-like patch on cheek, the patch orange dorsally and reddish ventrally, fading entirely in preservative; dorsal fins light grayish with 2 rows of spots; a whitish longitudinal band just above lateral axis of body; dorsal surface of body with 8 irregular blackish saddles and lower half with 7 reddish bars and black dots on upper half of each bar; lower half of anal fin reddish; caudal fin grayish with upper and lower portion darker and vertical rows of orange dots on yellowish bands. The new species is most similar to Parapercis somaliensis and Parapercis kentingensis morphologically and genetically, but differs in coloration, serrations on the opercle, and body proportions. The establishment of the new species is also supported by DNA barcoding analysis.