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The taxonomic status of Gerres longirostris (Lacepede, 1801), Gerres britannus (Lacepede, 1802), and Gerres poieti Cuvier, 1829, is examined. Gerres longirostris is considered a valid species and a senior synonym of G. britannus, G. poieti, and Gerres acinaces Bleeker, 1854a, and four other species (Gerres lineolatus Playfair, 1867, Gerres longicaudus Alleyne and Macleay, 1876, Gerres rueppellii Klunzinger, 1884, and Gerres darnleyense Ogilby, 1913). Gerres longirostris is redescribed, with designation of a neotype from Madagascar, Indian Ocean. Gerres oblongus Cuvier, 1830, is also confirmed as a valid species and a senior synonym of Gerres macrosoma Bleeker, 1854b, and Gerres gigas Gunther, 1862. A lectotype is designated for G. oblongus and a neotype for G. macrosoma. Gerres longirostris and G. oblongus belong to the ”Gerres longirostris complex.” Gerres longirostris differs from G. oblongus in having a deeper body (mean 39% SL vs mean 33% SL in G. oblongus), fewer pored lateral line scales (4...

Gerres silaceus n. sp. is described from the holotype and two paratypes from the southern Malay Peninsula. The species is included as the fourth species in the “G. setifer complex” [G. chrysops Iwatsuki, Kimura and Yoshino, G. decacanthus (Bleeker), G. setifer (Hamilton), G. silaceus n. sp.], differing from all other congeners from the Indo-Pacific in having two supraneural bones and small size (less than 100 mm in standard length vs three supraneural bones and adults > 100 mm SL). The new species is further characterized by presence of IX, 10 dorsal fin rays, 34 or 35 lateral line scales, 3.5 scales between the 5th dorsal fin spine base and lateral line, caudal fin short (mean 29% of SL), slender second anal fin spine, pelvic fin ray with a wide white margin posteriorly, and a uniformly silvery ocher body. Gerres silaceus differs from G. setifer and G. decacanthus in body color, the last dorsal fin spine slightly shorter or similar length to the penultimate spine, higher gillraker counts and bro...

The taxonomic status of Gerres erythrourus (Bloch, 1791) and G. abbreviatusBleeker, 1850, was studied. The dried holotype (ZMB 8596, 162 mm in standard length) of G. erythrourus has been found to be identical to the lectotype (RMNH 6682, 187 mm SL, herein designated) and nontype specimens, originating from the known geographical distribution range, of G. abbreviatus from the basis of meristic and morphometric characters. Gerres erythrourus has priority over G. abbreviatus and thus is redescribed as a valid gerreid species and a senior synonym of G. abbreviatus. The species is currently known from India, southeastern Asia, New Guinea, Micronesia, northern Australia, southern China, and the Ryukyu Islands, Japan.