indicus, Melichthys Randall [J. E.] & Klausewitz [W.] 1973:(60) 64, Figs. 4-6 [Senckenbergiana Biologica v. 54 (nos 1/3); ref. 7581] Goy Huyong, Similian Islands, Thailand [Andaman Sea, eastern Indian Ocean], 8°29'N, 97°39'E, depth 1-4 meters. Holotype: ANSP 105837. Paratypes: BPBM 12513 [ex SMF 4328] (1); MNHN 1954-0040 (2); RMNH 7286 (1); SAIAB [formerly RUSI] 665 (1), 666 (1), 667 (1); SMF 4258 (1), 5234 (1), 8662 (3), 8751 (1), 10972 (23). Type catalog: Böhlke 1984:26 [ref. 13621], Beaunier et al. 2009:292 [ref. 28887]. •Valid as Melichthys indicus Randall & Klausewitz 1973 -- (Dor 1984:275 [ref. 29757], Smith & Heemstra 1986:879 [ref. 5714], Winterbottom et al. 1989:68 [ref. 13251], Goren & Dor 1994:73 [ref. 25356], Randall 1995:393 [ref. 22896], Fricke 1999:579 [ref. 24106], Allen 2000:94 [ref. 37268], Randall et al. 2002:77 [ref. 41322], Allen & Adrim 2003:64 [ref. 26830], Manilo & Bogorodsky 2003:S123 [ref. 27377], Fricke et al. 2009:116 [ref. 30213], Matsuura 2009:327 [ref. 31171], Allen & Erdmann 2012:1062 [ref. 31980], Matsuura 2014:7 [ref. 33576], Fricke et al. 2018:377 [ref. 35805], Zajonz et al. 2019:101 [ref. 36871], Psomadakis et al. 2020:607 [ref. 37272], Parenti 2021:654 [ref. 38921], Gloerfelt-Tarp & Kailola 2022:293 [ref. 41223], Matsuura 2022:420 [ref. 40250], Noushad K. et al. 2024:46 [ref. 40947]). Current status: Valid as Melichthys indicus Randall & Klausewitz 1973. Balistidae. Distribution: Red Sea; Indian Ocean: KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), East Africa, Socotra (Yemen), Seychelles, Madagascar, western Mascarenes (La Réunion, Mauritius), Lakshadweep (India), Maldives and Chagos Archipelago east to Myanmar and Sumatra, Java and Bali (Indonesia). Hybridizes with Melichthys vidua (Richardson 1845). Habitat: marine.