An Updated Checklist of Polyclads with a Note on the New Records to Indian Coastal Waters
Florence Suganya R
Marine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, 130, Santhome High Road, Chennai – 600028, India.
P. Padmanaban
Marine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, 130, Santhome High Road, Chennai – 600028, India.
R. Chandran
Zoological Survey of India, Fire Proof Spirit Building, Indian Museum Complex, Kolkata- 16, India.
K. Ramkumaran
ZSI-IOCL Coral Translocation Project Field Station, Zoological Survey of India, Jamnagar, Gujarat-361008, India.
C. Venkatraman *
Marine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, 130, Santhome High Road, Chennai – 600028, India.
S. Prabakaran
Marine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, 130, Santhome High Road, Chennai – 600028, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Polyclads are free-living, exclusively marine and usually bottom dwellers. They are usually carnivorous. Field survey was carried out during November 2023 in Boria Island, Gujarat and February 2024 in Kavaratti Island, Lakshadweep West coast of India as part of the in-house programme of ZSI on the marine faunal exploration. Snorkeling and scuba diving gear was used up to 5m depth and intertidal collections were also made in the study area. On perusal of literature and examining the species thoroughly two polyclad species i.e., Pseudobiceros sp. and Prosthiostomum sp. were found to be a new record for Indian coastal waters and and new record to Lakshdweep waters respectively. Based on the published literature, an attempt was made to prepare the checklist resulted 85 species under 08 family, 17 genera are reported from India so far. Further exploration and understanding of polyclad diversity, their associates along the Indian coast may act as a useful indicator of overall marine bio diversity and reef habitat health.
Keywords: Prosthiostomum spp., Pseudobiceros sp., Kavaratti Island, Gulf of Kachchh, West Coast, Polyclad