First record of Grunting toadfish, Allenbatrachus grunniens (Linnaeus, 1758) (Batrachoidiformes: Batrachoididae) from Odisha Coast, India

99-101This paper reports Allenbatrachus grunniens (Linnaeus, 1758), a toadfish species for the first time from Odisha coast. The specimen was collected from the mangrove area of Mahanadi estuary at Paradeep. From Odisha coast only one species of fish from the Batrachoididae family, Austrobatrachus dussumieri (Valenciennes 1837), presently known as Colletteichthys dussumieri (Valenciennes, 1837) was reported. Here a systematic account of Allenbatrachus grunniens (Linnaeus, 1758) with its morphometry is reported for the first time as an additional record to the fish fauna of Odisha

First record of Grunting toadfish, Allenbatrachus grunniens (Linnaeus, 1758) (Batrachoidiformes: Batrachoididae) from Odisha Coast, India

This paper reports Allenbatrachus grunniens (Linnaeus, 1758), a toadfish species for the first time from Odisha coast. The specimen was collected from the mangrove area of Mahanadi estuary at Paradeep. From Odisha coast only one species of fish from the Batrachoididae family, Austrobatrachus dussumieri (Valenciennes 1837), presently known as Colletteichthys dussumieri (Valenciennes, 1837) was reported. Here a systematic account of Allenbatrachus grunniens (Linnaeus, 1758) with its morphometry is reported for the first time as an additional record to the fish fauna of Odisha

Wetlands of Small Island Nations in South Asia vis-à-vis the Mainland and Island Groups in India: Status and Conservation Strategies

The wetlands of small island nations in South Asia such as Sri Lanka and the Maldives are compared with that of India with respect to their status, biodiversity, threats and conservation measures. Sri Lanka has diverse coastal habitats, which are known to support fishes (1800 species), marine turtles (5 species), marine mammals (38 species), corals (183 species), mangroves (40 species), birds (100 species), reptiles (33 species) and seagrasses (10 species). The Maldives boasts one of the world’s richest marine biodiversity comprising 250 species of corals, over 1200 of reef fishes, 200 species of sponges, over 1000 species of crustaceans and over 100 species of echinoderms. Marine biodiversity of India comprises 12,913 species, of which more than 5800 species are reported from Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Marine biodiversity of Lakshadweep islands is represented by corals (172 species), fishes (396), sponges (95), molluscs (260), echinoderms (84), crustaceans (80), turtles (04),birds (142), marine mammals (6), seagrasses (07) and mangroves (03). The major threats to these wetlands of South Asian countries are climate change, extreme events like tsunami, coastal erosion, population pressure, habitat destruction and over-exploitation. The chapter emphasises the need for adopting frontier tools for biodiversity documentation and innovative strategies for their conservation

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Not AvailableThe current study was carried out to document molluscs that are caught in lobster nets (Singhi valai), an indigenous gear operated by fishers in the Gulf of Mannar to harvest lobsters, crabs and fishes. This net is operated in depths up to 15 m from the traditional country craft, Vallam' . A total of 73 species of marine molluscs from class Bivalvia (32 species belonging to 4 families) and Gastropoda (41 species belonging to 27 families) have been documented. Vulsella vulsella was dominant (1235%) among bivalves Avhereas Lambis lambis was dominant (143%) among the gastropods. The family Veneridae in bivalves (29%) and the family Strombidae in gastropods (17%) contributed the highest among the documented molluscs.Not Availabl

Diversity of marine molluscs in the bycatch from lobster nets, Erwadi, Gulf of Mannar

170-175The current study was carried out to document molluscs that are caught in lobster nets (Singhi valai), an indigenous gear operated by fishers in the Gulf of Mannar to harvest lobsters, crabs and fishes. This net is operated in depths up to 15 m from the traditional country craft, ‘Vallam’. A total of 73 species of marine molluscs from class Bivalvia (32 species belonging to 4 families) and Gastropoda (41 species belonging to 27 families) have been documented. Vulsella vulsella was dominant (12.35%) among bivalves whereas Lambis lambis was dominant (14.7%) among the gastropods. The family Veneridae in bivalves (29%) and the family Strombidae in gastropods (17%) contributed the highest among the documented molluscs

An updated checklist of shrimps on the Indian coast

This study reports an updated checklist of marine shrimps found along the Indian coast, including the Lakshadweep and the Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands.  A total of 364 species classified under 128 genera belonging to the order Decapoda is reported, thus adding 27 species to the existing checklist of 337 species.  Marine shrimps are classified under two suborders of the order Decapoda, viz., Dendrobranchiata and Pleocyemata, and the two suborders account for 155 (42.6 %) and 209 species (57.4 %) of these 364 species, respectively.  Pleocyemata is represented by three infraorders, viz., Axiidea, Caridea and Stenopodidea, while Caridea has a maximum of 199 reported species. Among the 12 superfamilies, Penaeoidea contributed to 38.13% (135 species) followed by Paleaemonidea with 18.07% (64 species).  All other superfamilies were found to contribute less than 12%.  Superfamilies, Bresilloidea and Psalidopodoidea had only single species representatives (0.28% each).  The final list was compiled after reviewing all existing literature including monographs, catalogues, checklists, websites and fishery reports. The scientific names were validated with the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) database.  A total of 25 issues were identified from the previous checklist out of which 19 species have been updated with the correct, accepted names and six species have been removed from the previous list.</p

An updated checklist of Echinoderms from Indian waters

Species checklists enlist the species available within the defined geographical region and thus serve as essential input for developing conservation and management strategies. The fields of conservation biology and ecology confront the challenge of inflated biodiversity, attributed to non-recognition of taxonomic inconsistencies such as synonyms, alternate representation, emendations etc. Critical review of the checklists and distributional records of Phylum Echinodermata from Indian waters and subsequent validation of species names with World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) database, revealed that the current literature included 236 incorrect entries comprising of 162 synonyms, 15 emendations, 5 nomina dubia, 1 nomen nudum, 40 species under alternate representation, 9 species with author misnomer, 1 subspecies and 1 unaccepted. The 226 species found to be mixed with valid names and a revised checklist was prepared. The revised and updated checklist holds 741 species of echinoderms comprising of 182 asteroids (24.56%), 70 crinoids (9.45%), 138 echinoids (18.62%), 179 holothuroids (24.16%) and 172 ophiuroids (23.21%), placed under 28 orders and 107 families. This paper discusses the cause for taxonomic inflation and argues that such taxonomic inconsistencies alter our interpretations of a species including its inaccurate distribution and, could possibly impede the country's conservation and management efforts

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Not AvailableSpecies checklists enlist the species available within the defined geographical region and thus serve as essential input for developing conservation and management strategies. The fields of conservation biology and ecology confront the chal-lenge of inflated biodiversity, attributed to non-recognition of taxonomic inconsistencies such as synonyms, alternate rep-resentation, emendations etc. Critical review of the checklists and distributional records of Phylum Echinodermata from Indian waters and subsequent validation of species names with World Register of Marine Species (WORMS) database, re-vealed that the current literature included 236 incorrect entries comprising of 162 synonyms, 15 emendations, 5 nomina dubia, I nomen nudwn, 40 species under alternate representation, 9 species with author misnomer, 1 subspecies and 1 un-accepted. The 226 species found to be mixed with valid names and a revised checklist was prepared. The revised and up-dated checklist holds 741 species of echinoderms comprising of 182 asteroids (24.56%), 70 crinoids (9.45%), 138 echinoids (18.62%), 179 holothuroids (24.16%) and 172 ophiuroids (23.21%), placed under 28 orders and 107 families. This paper discusses the cause for taxonomic inflation and argues that such taxonomic inconsistencies alter our interpre-tations of a species including its inaccurate distribution and, could possibly impede the country's conservation and man-agement efforts.Not Availabl