An annotated checklist of opisthobranch fauna (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia) of the Nicobar Islands, India

This paper presents 52 species of opisthobranchs recorded from the Nicobar group of Islands. Of these, Aldisa erwinkoehleri, Dermatobranchus rodmani, Glossodoris pallida, Noumea simplex, Pectenodoris trilineata, Okenia kendi, Tambja morosa, Phyllidia elegans, Phyllidiopsis annae, Flabellina riwo and Phidiana indica represent new records for Indian waters

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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

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