The bubble snails (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia) of Mozambique: an overlooked biodiversity hotspot

This first account, dedicated to the shallow water marine heterobranch gastropods of Mozambique is presented with a focus on the clades Acteonoidea and Cephalaspidea. Specimens were obtained as a result of sporadic sampling and two dedicated field campaigns between the years of 2012 and 2015, conducted along the northern and southern coasts of Mozambique. Specimens were collected by hand in the intertidal and subtidal reefs by snorkelling or SCUBA diving down to a depth of 33 m. Thirty-two species were found, of which 22 are new records to Mozambique and five are new for the Western Indian Ocean. This account raises the total number of shallow water Acteonoidea and Cephalaspidea known in Mozambique to 39 species, which represents approximately 50 % of the Indian Ocean diversity and 83 % of the diversity of these molluscs found in the Red Sea. A gap in sampling was identified in the central swamp/mangrove bio-region of Mozambique, and therefore, we suggest that future research efforts concentrate on or at least consider this region.publishedVersio

A report on the coral reef dwelling polyclads of Nicobar Islands, India

Abstract Although the Polycladida (Platyhelminthes) are prominent members of many reef communities, no comprehensive surveys exist for the Nicobar group of Islands, India. A total of 7 species of polyclads were collected from the reef areas of the Nancowry group of Islands in Nicobar region. The polyclads reported through this study are new to Nicobar group of Islands while, Cycloporus venetus Newman and Cannon, 2002; Phrikoceros mopsus (Marcus, 1952); Pseudobiceros uniarborensis Newman and Cannon, 1994 and Pseudobiceros stellae Newman and Cannon, 1994 are first records for the Indian waters

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Not AvailableAndaman rotifers are least studied and authenticated records are not available for sufficing the data on their biodiversity. Rotifers were collected from brackish water to see their species diversity. Rotifers identified during this study are Brachionus plicatilis, B. rotundiformis, B.murrayi, B.urceolaris, B. calyciflorus, B. falcatus and Kellicotia sp. This is a primary record on Brachionids of saline waters of Andaman. The detailed description of the rotifers recorded during the study in the coastal waters of S. Andaman is presented for substantiating the taxonomic relevance of the study.Not Availabl

Brachionid rotifer diversity in Andaman waters

Andaman rotifers are least studied and authenticated records are not available for sufficing the data on their biodiversity. Rotifers were collected from brackish water to see their species diversity. Rotifers identified during this study are Brachionus plicatilis, B. rotundiformis, B.murrayi, B.urceolaris, B. calyciflorus, B. falcatus and Kellicotia sp. This is a primary record on Brachionids of saline waters of Andaman. The detailed description of the rotifers recorded during the study in the coastal waters of S. Andaman is presented for substantiating the taxonomic relevance of the study

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Not AvailableDuring the survey 1386 colonies of hard corals, belonging to 27 genera were examined to identify the occurrence of different diseases and the disease prevalence data was collected for the entire study period. The percentage occurrence of the nine major diseases, which were prevalent among the corals in the islands, was as follows: White Pox disease (12.19), White Plague (11.04), White Band (12.77), White Syndrome (17.89), Pink Spot (1.01), Dark Spot (10.25), Pink Line Syndrome (15.30), Polychaete infestation (16.23) and Crown of thorn grazing (1.23). Area- wise analysis of the disease prevalence data showed that the highest number of incidences was at Marina park (21.3%), followed by North Bay (16.13 %), Car Nicobar (13.89 %), Radhanagar Beach (13.74%), Boat Island (12.44%), Tarmugli Island (9.85%), Silver sand beach (8.07 %) and Havelock Jetty (5.63 %). Among the coral species, Acropora spp. and Porites spp. were dominantly affected. The other affected species include Platygyra spp., Gardineroseris sp., Goniastrea spp., Leptorea spp., Montipora spp., Favites spp., and Lobophyllia spp.Not Availabl

Monitoring and assessment of the emerging diseases in scleractinian corals of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

During the survey 1386 colonies of hard corals, belonging to 27 genera were examined to identify the occurrence of different diseases and the disease prevalence data was collected for the entire study period. The percentage occurrence of the nine major diseases, which were prevalent among the corals in the islands, was as follows: White Pox disease (12.19), White Plague (11.04), White Band (12.77), White Syndrome (17.89), Pink Spot (1.01), Dark Spot (10.25), Pink Line Syndrome (15.30), Polychaete infestation (16.23) and Crown of thorn grazing (1.23). Area- wise analysis of the disease prevalence data showed that the highest number of incidences was at Marina park (21.3%), followed by North Bay (16.13 %), Car Nicobar (13.89 %), Radhanagar Beach (13.74%), Boat Island (12.44%), Tarmugli Island (9.85%), Silver sand beach (8.07 %) and Havelock Jetty (5.63 %). Among the coral species, Acropora spp. and Porites spp. were dominantly affected. The other affected species include Platygyra spp., Gardineroseris sp., Goniastrea spp., Leptorea spp., Montipora spp., Favites spp., and Lobophyllia spp

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Not AvailableRhodoliths are nodular form of marine free-living, non-geniculate, crustose coralline red algae, resembling the corals. The communities, in which they dominate are referred to as ‘rhodolith beds’, ‘rhodolites’ or ‘maerl’. Rhodoliths assume different sizes, shapes and forms (small thalli-like, twig-like, large round shaped, branching/unbranching, etc.) based on different factors such as water motion, bioturbation, grazing, fouling, bleaching, etc..Not Availabl

Occurrence of the supposedly endemic Australian azooxanthellate coral Astrangia woodsi Wells, 1955 in the eastern Arabian Sea

The scleractinian coral family Rhizangiidae is known to have a cosmopolitan distribution. The members of this family are all azooxanthellate, and they are little studied due to their small size, difficult identification, and possible rare occurrence. Astrangia woodsi Wells, 1955 is one of five rhizangiid species that is supposed to be endemic to Australia. During an underwater survey on a rocky reef in the eastern Arabian Sea on the Indian coast, this species was discovered for the first time outside its previously known range. The present record indicates that the endemic status of the species needs to be reconsidered and suggests that its range may include a large part of the Indian Ocean