Plectorhinchus makranensis sp. nov. is described on the basis of 16 specimens from the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, in the Northwest Indian Ocean. The new species can be distinguished from congeners by a combination of dorsal fin rays XII,18–20, pectoral-fin rays 16–17, tubed lateral-line scales 55-57, gill rakers count (10-12 on the upper limb and 16-17 on the lower limb), 17-18 scales between lateral line to the first anal-fin spine, 30-31 circumpeduncular scale rows and color pattern. Plectorhinchus makranensis sp. nov. is distinguished from P. schotaf by having the posterior margin of the opercular membrane grey (vs. red in P. schotaf), fewer circumpeduncular scale rows, and a shorter base of soft the portion of dorsal fin, 27.6-29.4% of standard length (vs.31-32.3% of SL in P. schotaf). The new species resembles P. sordidus but is differentiated from it by having more gill rakers, a smaller orbit diameter 27.5-32.1% of head length (HL) (vs. 35.5-37.2% % of HL in P. sordidus), longer caudal peduncle, its length 19.2-21.3% of SL (vs. 17.1-17.9% of SL in P. sordidus), and first to third pectoral fin rays light gray (vs. dark gray in P. sordidus). The new species can also be distinguished from the other species including P. schotaf and P. sordidus based on COI and Cyt b molecular markers. The phylogenetic position of this new species indicates that it is a sister taxon of P. schotaf.

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