Festucalex rosa, a new species of pipefish (Teleostei: Syngnathidae) from the Seychelles, western Indian Ocean

The new pipefish Festucalex rosa sp. nov. is described from a single specimen collected from D'Arros Island, Seychelles, representing only the second species of Festucalex recorded from the western Indian Ocean. The new species is similar to other members of the genus, including F. armillatus Prokofiev 2016, F. gibbsi Dawson 1977, F. prolixus Dawson 1984, and F. wassi Dawson 1977 in possessing two ridges on the pectoral-fin base, but is distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: 17 trunk rings; 34 tail rings; 21 dorsal-fin rays; 14 or 15 pectoral-fin rays; snout length 46.3% of head length; and lateral trunk ridge terminating at the anal ring.

A possible conspecific record from Kosi Bay, South Africa, is noted.