Several specimens of two deep-water false catsharks, Planonasus parini and Planonasus indicus (Family: Pseudotriakidae), were obtained as bycatch from deep-sea shrimp trawl operations off Kollam, southwest India. The present study represents the first confirmed record of P. parini within the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone, thereby extending its known distributional range into the Laccadive Sea. Additionally, the collection of multiple specimens of P. indicus suggests that this species may be more widespread and abundant than previously recognized. Comprehensive morphological examinations and molecular analyses verified species identity and yielded novel diagnostic and distributional information. These findings highlight the broader regional occurrence of both Planonasus species and reinforce the importance of continued bycatch monitoring to support conservation assessments in the Indian Ocean region.
