Fish taxonomic studies in the South China Sea, Area IV: Vietnamese waters

Abstract

Work was undertaken on fish taxonomy of marine fish found in Vietnamese waters in order to revise the “Field guide to important commercial marine fishes of the South China Sea”. Two field surveys were carried out at 9 separate locations from April 23 to May 17, and 2 other locations from September 20-26, 1999. A total of 442 specimens of fish from 107 different families were collected and photographed. Among the 442 specimens, 336 specimens were successfully identified to the species level, 99 specimens to the genus level, and only 7 specimens to the family level. The sampling areas at Qui Nhon, Nha Trang and Phan Thiet provided the most number of samples of 96, 94 and 79 fish, respectively. A total of 348 fish were new candidates for the Field Guide. More field surveys are necessary to cover the rather extensive array of new fish specimens expected to be found in these waters.