Table Of ContentJournal ofthe Bombay Natural History Society, 106(2), May-Aug 2009 162-175
OPISTHOBRANCH FAUNA OF LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS, INDIA, WITH 52 NEW RECORDS
TO LAKSHADWEEPAND 40 NEW RECORDS TO INDIA: PART
1
DeepakApte1
'BombayNaturalHistorySociety,Hornbill House,S.B. SinghRoad,Mumbai400001,Maharashtra,India.
Email: [email protected]
Opisthobranchs are the least studied faunaofIndia. The present study was earned out in LakshadweepArchipelago
between 2005 and 2009. During the 4-year study a total of 60 species from 25 families were recorded. Of these
60 species, 52 are newrecords to Lakshadweep and40 are new records to the Indiancoast.
Key words: Opisthobranchs, Lakshadweep,Aeolid, Dorid
INTRODUCTION Minicoy, it is up to 10 m. The study was conducted from
October to April from 2005-2009, each year, at Kavaratti,
Nudibranchs belong to Phylum Mollusca, Class Agatti, Minicoy, Suheli, Chetlat, Bangaram, Bitra, Kiltan,
GastropodaandSubclassOpisthobranchia.Theseareamong Kalpeni and Kadmat islands.
the least studied molluscs in India. The work done on
METHODOLOGY
Opisthobranchs in India is little and patchy, and the earlier
works date back to 1880s by Alder and Hancock (1864),
Kelaart(1858, 1859, 1883)andGardiner(1903).Theearliest Directsearchmethodwasusedtocollectspecimens:
work on Opisthobranchs in Lakshadweep was by Gardiner Detailednotes on behavioural observations were made.
(1903).Subsequently,Eliot(1903, 1906. 1909, 1910a, 1910b, Preservation ofspecimen: Specimens were storedin
1916), Farran (1905), Homell (1909), O’Donoghue (1932), ethyl alcohol after studying the morphological characters.
Rao (1936, 1952, 1961), Winckworth (1946), Satyamurthi Live specimens of each species were photographed for
(1952), Gideon etal. (1957), Rao andAlagarswami (1960), recordingtruecolours. Barringafewspecimens,majorityof
Narayanan (1968, 1970), Burn (1970), Rao et al. (1974), the specimens are available with the author and will be
Valdes et al. (1999), and Valdes (2002) worked on the deposited in the BNHS collections.
Opisthobranchs from the Indian coast. Recent work on this
group is limited. Fontanaetal. (2001) studied the bioactive RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
substancesinIndiannudibranchs. Rudman(1970, 1971, 1980,
1984, 1986, 1990),Yonow(1984a,b, 1986, 1988, 1994, 1996), During the 4-year study a total of 60 species were
Gosliner and Willan (1991), Gosliner (1992, 1994, 1995), recordedbelongingto25families. Ofthese60species,52are
Goslinerand Behrens (1998), GoslinerandJohnson (1999), newrecordstoLakshadweep. Ofthese52species,40arenew
Goslineretal. (1996), and Brunckhorst (1993)reviewedthe records to the Indian coast (Table 1). This clearly indicates
status of various Opisthobranch groups in the Indo-Pacific that Opisthobranchs in India are least studied. Most
region. Opisthobranch species possess bioactive molecules and
tremendouspotentialinmedicalscience;itisthereforeessential
STUDY AREA to undertake extensivetaxonomic studyofthisgroup.
ThepresentstudywascarriedoutintheLakshadweep Description ofspecies recorded in Lakshadweep
Archipelago. The smallest Union Territory of India,
Lakshadweep is an archipelago oftwelve atolls, three reefs Family: Hydatinidae
and five submerged banks. Ofthe 36 islands spread across Hydatina velum (Lightfoot, 1786) (Fig. la)
32 sq. km, each ranging from 0.1 to 4.9 sq. km, only 1 1 are India: Widely distributed both on east and westcoast
inhabited. The islands lie scatteredintheArabian Seaabout ofIndia.
225-445kmfromtheKeralacoast.Theyhaveadistinctlagoon Extralimital Distribution: Indo-Pacific.
on the west, whereas the eastern side lacks a lagoon. The Size: 30 mm.
depthofthelagoonvariesfromislandtoisland.Themaximum Description:Thisisabenthicspecies.Theshellofthe
depth in smallerlagoons, such as Kavaratti, Chetlat, Kiltan, species is light and semi-transparent. Centre ofbody whorl
Kalpeni,Amini, andKadmat, isusuallyupto4m. However, bears one distinct pair ofdark brown band. A single brown
in larger lagoons, such as Suheli, Bitra, Bangaram and bandpresentnearthespireandatthebaseofthebodywhorl.
OPISTHOBRANCH FAUNA OF LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS
Table1: Opisthobranchfaunaof Lakshadweep
Family Species New RecordtoLakshadweep New Recordto India
Hydatinidae Hydatina velum - -
Bullinidae Bullaampulla - -
Haminaeidae Haminoeacymbalum V -
Aglajidae Chelldonuraelectra V y
Chelidonurapunctata y y
Gastropteridae Sagaminopteronpsychedelicum y y
Aplysiidae Aplysladactylomela - -
Aplysiapan/ula V y
Dolabellaauricularia y y
y y
Dolabrlferadolabrifera
V y
Stylocheilusstriatus
Pleurobranchidae Pleurobranchusperoni y y
Pleurobanchusalbiguttatus y y
y y
Berthellinacf dellcata
Euselenopsluniceps y -
Smaragdinellidae Phanerophthalmussmaragdinus y y
y
Polybranchiidae Polybranchiaorientalis -
Volvatellidae Volvatellavigourouxi y
y
Elysiidae Elysiaornata -
Elysia tomentosa y -
y y
Thuridillacarlsoni
y
Thuridillagracilis -
y y
Thuridillalivida
Thuridilla vatae y y
Plakobranchusocellatus y -
Notodorididae Aegiressp. y y
Gymnodorididae Gymnodorissp. y y
Gymnodorisceylonica y -
Gymnodorisalba y y
Chromodorididae Chromodoriscfsetoensis y y
Chromodorisfidelis y y
Glossodoriscincta y y
Hypselodorismaculosa y y
Hypselodorisinfucata y -
Hypselodorismaridadilus y y
Discodorididae Peltodorismurrea y y
Kentrodorididae Jorunnarubescens - -
Jorunnafunebris y -
Platydorididae Platydoriscruenta y y
Dorididae Halgerdatessellata y y
Asteronotuscespitosus y -
y y
Phyllidiidae Phyllidiacoelestis
y y
Phyllidiavericosa
y y
Phyllidiaalyta
Phyllidiamarindica y y
Phyllidiellapustulosa - -
Phyllidiellarosans - -
Phyllidiellazeylanica - -
Phyllidiopsisphlphiensis y
y y
Phyllidiopsisstriata
Phyllidiopsisgemmata y y
Dendrodorididae Dendrodoristuberculosa y -
Dendrodorisnigra - -
Actinocyclidae Actinocyclus verrucosus y y
Tritoniidae Marianinarosea y y
y y
Flabellinidae Flabellinabicolor
Tergipedidae Phestillalugubris y y
Facelinidae Pteraeolidiaianthina y y
y y
Herviellaaffinis
Herviellaalbida y y
25families 60species 52 40
'S'\ newrecord; earlierrecord
:
1 BombayNat. Hist. Soc., 106(2), May-Aug 2009 163
OPISTHOBRANCH FAUNAOF LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS
Fig. 1: a. Hydatina velum, b. Bullaampulla-, c. Haminoeacymbalum; d. Chelidonura electra; e. Chelidonurapunctata-,
f. Sagaminopteronpsychedelicum-, g. Aplysiadactylomela-, h. Aplyslaparvula-, i. Dolabriferadolabrifera-,j. Dolabellaauricularia-,
k. Stylocheilusstriatus; i. Pleurobranchusperonl; m. Pleurobranchusalbiguttatus-, n. Berthellinacfdelicata-, o. Euselenopsluniceps-,
p. Phanerophthalmussmaragdinus\ q. Polybranchia orientalis; r. Volvatella vigourouxr, s. Elysia ornata; t. Elysla tomentosa-,
u. Thuridillacarlsonf,v. Thuridillagracilis-, w. Thuridillalivida-, x. Thuridilla vatae
164 J. BombayNat. Hist. Soc., 106(2), May-Aug 2009
OPISTHOBRANCH FAUNA OF LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS
Liveanimal is uncommon in the lagoon reef. spots,itformssmallaggregationsduringthebreedingperiod.
Status: Uncommon. Itoccursmostlyoncoralrabblecoveredwithencrustingalgae.
Status: Seasonallycommon.
Family: Bullinidae
Bullaampulla Linnaeus, 1758 (Fig. lb) Family: Gastropteridae
India: Widely distributedboth on east and west coast Sagaminopteronpsychedelicum Carlsonand Hoff, 1974
ofIndia. (Fig. If)
ExtralimitalDistribution:WidelydistributedinIndo- India: Lakshadweep.
Pacificregion. Extralimital Distribution: Japan, South Africa,
Size: 20mm. Philippines,Guam,Malaysia,Seychelles,PapuaNewGuinea,
Description:Thewhiteshellwithprofusedarktolight Red Sea, Fiji, Taiwan.
brownmottlingissolidandwithalargebodywhorl. Seasonal Size: 4mm.
congregation ofthis species is common. It mostly occurs on Description: Itgrowsupto 12 mm; is associated with
sandflats. Dysidia sponges on which itfeeds.
Status:Abundant. Status: Veryrare.
Family: Haminaeidae Family: Aplysiidae
Haminoeacymbalum (QuoyandGaimard, 1835) (Fig. lc) Aplysiadactylomela Rang, 1828 (Fig. lg)
India: There are only two records of this species in India: Widely distributedin India.
India;GulfofMannar(Fontanaetal.2001)andLakshadweep, Extralimital Distribution: Red Sea, Africa, Hawaii,
anewrecordfrom thepresentstudy. South Pacific,Australia, Japan, Sri Lanka, Caribbean.
Extralimital Distribution: Mozambique and Size: 600 mm.
Madagascar to Indonesia and Hawaii. Western Pacific and Description:Alarge animal, itis usually seen in large
westernIndianOcean. congregations, mostly in shallow waters, during winter
Size: 25 mm. months.Theshellisconsiderablyreducedinthisspeciesand
Description: Shellisfragileandtransparent.Animalis is present inside the body. It shows remarkable colour
brilliantlycoloured.Thelightgreengroundcolourisprofusely variations. In Lakshadweep, thedullbrowngroundcolouris
spottedwithcrimsonredspotsandlightorangemottling.Foot dottedwithblackandwhitespots. Mantleisborderedinpink.
isshortwithcrimsonredspots.Eggcasesarewhiteandglued Specimens from Gulf of Kutch are usually dull green with
together with a gelatinous substance. Eggs are laid on dead blackspots.Thepinkliningofthe mantle flapisalsoabsent.
coralboulders.Individualsformlongchainsduringbreeding The animals release a purpledye ifdisturbed.
congregations. Seasonal congregations are common and Status: Abundant.
usuallybetweenOctobertoMarch. Aplysiaparvula Morch, 1863 (Fig. lh)
Status: Seasonally abundant.
India: Lakshadweep.
Family:Aglajidae ExtralimitalDistribution: Circumtropical.
Chelidonura electro Rudman, 1970 (Fig. Id) Size: 8 mm.
India: Lakshadweep. Description:AsmallAplysiaitgrowsupto20mm.Body
Extralimital Distribution: Indonesia Papau New islightbrownwithwhitespots.Itisalsoprofuselydottedwith
Guinea,Australia, Solomon Is., Madagascar, Tropical Indo- white. Mantleedge and tipsofrhinophoresarepeacockblue.
WestPacific. Status: Rare.
Size: 25 mm.
Dolabrifera dolabrifera (Cuvier, 1817) (Fig. li)
Description: A snow-white slug with a bright yellow
India: Lakshadweep.
A
border. distinct tail-like extension ofthe foot is a typical Extralimital Distribution: Circumtropical.
characterofthe genus. Size: 150 mm.
Status: Rare. Description: Alarge slug, it is mostly seenin shallow
Chelidonurapunctata Eliot, 1903 (Fig. le) watersofcoralreefs.Itisnocturnalandremainshiddenunder
India: Lakshadweep. algalmassduringdaytime. Theanimal islightgreentodark
Extralimital Distribution: Tanzania, Madagascar, brown in colour. Rear part of the body is squarish and
Thailand, Myanmar, Mauritius, Maldives, Reunion Island. flattened. Mantle is fully covered with fleshy extensions.
Size: 25 mm. Seasonallycommon,itformslargeaggregationsforbreeding.
Description:Adeepblue-blackslugwithbrightorange Status: Abundant.
J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 106(2), May-Aug 2009 165
OPISTHOBRANCH FAUNA OF LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS
HR
if
Fig. 2: a. Plakobranchusocellatus b. Aegiressp.; c. Gymnodorissp.; d. Gymnodorisceylonica: e. Gymnodorisalba:
;
f. Chromodoriscf setoensis: g. Chromodorisfidelis: h. Glossodoriscincta; i. Hypselodorismaculosa: j. Hypselodorisinfucata:
k. Hypselodorismaridadllus: I. Peltodorlsmurrea: m. Jorunna rubescens: n. Jorunna funebris: o. Platydorlscruenta:
p. Halgerda tessellata: q. Asteronotuscespitosus: r. Phyllidlacoelestis: s. Phyllldia varlcosa: t. Phyllidiaalyta:
u. Phyllldiamarindica: v. Phyllidlellapustulosa: w. Phyllidiella rosans: x. Phyllldlellazeylanica
166 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 106(2), May-Aug 2009
)
OPISTHOBRANCH FAUNA OF LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS
Dolabella auricularia (Lightfoot, 1786) (Fig. lj) Size: 35 mm.
India: Lakshadweep. Description:Asmallslug,itoccursonreefsand. Body
Extralimital Distribution: Japan, Red Sea, Africa, colour is deep orange with light orange foot. Rhinophores
Hawai, Galapagos,Australia, SolomonIs., Madagascar. are light orange.
Size: 300 mm. Status: Common.
Description: A large slug occurring on shallow reefs.
Body surface is highly warty. The animal is light green with Euselenops luniceps (Cuvier, 1817) (Fig. lo)
darkgreen tubercles or warts on dorsal surface. The rearpart India: GulfofMannar, Chennai.
ofthe body is squarishandflattened.Antennae are short. Extralimital Distribution: Philippines to Australia,
Status: Common. Fiji, Hawaii, tropical Indo-West Pacific. Also known from
SouthAfricaandTanzania.
Stylocheilus striatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1832) (Fig. Ik) Size: 75 mm.
India: Lakshadweep. Description: Itisalargeseaslugwhichmostlyremains
Extralimital Distribution: Circumtropical, Japan, on sand flats. The white ground colour is profusely spotted
SouthAfrica, Mexico. withdeepbrownspots.Whendisturbeditquicklydisappears
Size: 30 mm. undersand.Itcanswimshortdistances. Itsperfectcamouflage
Description: A small slug seen on coral sand. Large makes it difficult to find.
aggregations for short periods are common during winter. Status: Very Rare.
Animalsarelightgreytogreenwithlongitudinallinesrunning
across the body up to the foot. Antennae are also lined in Family: Smaragdinellidae
black. A close examination will reveal brilliant blue spots Phanerophthalmussmaragdinus (Ruppell & Leuckart,
circled with ayellowish band. 1828) (Fig. Ip)
Status: Seasonally abundant. India: Lakshadweep.
ExtralimitalDistribution: Indonesia,ReunionIsland,
Family: Pleurobranchidae Philippines,Japan.
Pleurobranchusperoni Cuvier, 1804 (Fig. 11) Size: 15 mm.
India: Lakshadweep. Description: This small slug has an internal shell. It
Extralimital Distribution: South Africa to Red Sea, inhabits shallow reefareas and mostly remains undercoral
Australia,Indonesia,Japan,UAE,NorfolkIs.(SouthPacific), boulders or coral sand. The animal is light green in
New Zealand. colour.
Size: 50 mm. Status: Common.
Description:Alargeslugwithanextremelysoftbody.
Thelightyellowgroundcolourisprofuselyspottedwithdark Family: Polybranchiidae
orange spots. Foot is light yellow. Rhinophores are orange Polybranchia orientalis (Kelaart, 1858) (Fig. lq)
andribbed. India: GulfofMannar, Lakshadweep.
Status: Uncommon. Extralimital Distribution: Japan, Sri Lanka, South
Africa, Hawaii, New Caledonia,Australia.
Pleurobranchusalbiguttatus (Bergh, 1905) (Fig. lm) Size: 30mm.
India: Lakshadweep. Description: A small nocturnal slug seen in reefs.
Extralimital Distribution: South Africa, Japan, Animal is translucent green with dark green cerata. In some
Australia, New Caledonia, Red Sea, Reunion Island, Saudi individuals,ceratacolouratthebaseislightbrowntocream.
Arabia, Philippines, Red Sea. Body surface bears many leaf-like cerata. On slightest
Size: 30 mm. physical touch, the animal automizes the cerata. Itlayseggs
Description:Asmallslug,itinhabitsshallowreefareas, underdead coral rocks, andthe egg mass is white in colour.
and mostly remains under coral boulders during day time. Egg cases are laid incircularrings.
Mantlehaspolygonalmarkingswithscatteredwhitetriangular Status: Common.
markings.Footandrhinophoreshaveyellowishbrownspots.
Status: Common. Family: Volvatellidae
Volvatella vigourouxi (Montrouzierin Souverbie, 1861
Berthellina cfdelicata (Pease, 1861) (Fig. In) (Fig. lr)
India: GulfofKutch. India: Lakshadweep.
Extralimital Distribution: Philippines, French Extralimital Distribution:Australia,NewCaledonia.
Polynesia. Size: 20mm.
J. BombayNat. Hist. Soc., 106(2), May-Aug 2009 167
OPISTHOBRANCH FAUNA OF LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS
Fig. 3: a. Phyllidiopsisphiphiensis b. Phyllidiopsisstriata c. Phyllidiopsisgemmata\ d. Dendrodoris tuberculosa
; ; ;
e. Dendrodorisnigra\ f. Actinocyclus verrucosus', g. Marianina rosea', h. Flabellinabicolor, i. Phestilla lugubris',
j. Pteraeolidiaianthina', k. Herviellaaffinis', I. Hervieiiaalbida
Description: Itisashelledsacoglossanseaslug. Shell is Elysiatomentosa Jensen, 1997 (Fig. It)
external,delicateandtransparent.Theanimalisyellowwithred India: GulfofKutch, Ratnagiri.
spots. Itisactiveduringdayandseen inshallow lagoonreef. It Extralimital Distribution: South Africa, Indo-West
wasfoundinthepoolwiththickgrowthofCaulerparacemosa. Pacific.
Status: Uncommon. Size: 40 mm.
Family: Elysiidae Description: A large Elysia seen on coral sand, it is
Elysia ornata (Swainson, 1840) (Fig. Is) deep green yellow in colour. The parapodia are lined by a
Syn: Elysia grandifolia Kelaart, 1858 black and pink band. Rhinophores are reddish brown. They
India: GulfofMannar, GulfofKutch, Andaman and usually occuramong Caulerpa racemosa.
Nicobar. Status: Common.
Extralimital Distribution: SouthAfricatoMaldives, Thuridilla carlsoni Gosliner, 1995 (Fig. lu)
AustraliatoHawaii,RedSeatoPolynesia,NorfolkIs.(South India: Lakshadweep.
Pacific), Indonesia, Taiwan, French Polynesia, Extralimital Distribution: New Caledonia, Papua
Circumtropical. New Guinea, Australia, Hawaiian Islands, Marshall Island,
Size: 20 mm.
Indonesia, Philippines.
Description: These small sea slugs are herbivorous. Size: 20 mm.
They feed by sucking sap from green algae Caulerpa Description: These small sacoglossan slugs are
racemosa and Codium sp. The species shows remarkable herbivorous. Body bearsgreen spotsonacreambackground.
colourvariation. Itisusuallyatranslucentgreenwithablack The parapodial flaps have a cream coloured edge. The
parapodial marginandasubmarginalyellowororangeband. rhinophores are cream with green base and lightbrown tips.
Body is covered with numerous black and white dots. The Status: Rare.
specimensfromGulfofKutcharemuchlighterincolourand
usually light green with black dots. Tips ofrhinophores are Thuridillagracilis (Risbec, 1828) (Fig. lv)
deep purple incolour. Syn: Thuridillaratna(Marcus, 1965); Thuridillabayeri
Status: Common. (Marcus, 1965)
168 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 106(2), May-Aug 2009
OPISTHOBRANCH FAUNA OF LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS
India: Lakshadweep. Family: Notodorididae
ExtralimitalDistribution:MadagascartoMarshallIs., Aegires sp. (Fig. 2b)
Papua New Guinea, Guam, Japan, Maldives, Philippines, India: Lakshadweep.
Coral Sea, Polynesiato Red Sea. ExtralimitalDistribution: IndonesiatoAustralia,Lord
Size: 20mm. Howe Is. (South Pacific), Norfolk Is., Japan.
Description: Itisasmallslugmostlyactiveduringlate Size: 60 mm.
evenings.Animalisdarkreddishbrownincolourwithbright Description:SpeciesfromgenusAegiresaresignificantly
yellowlongitudinallines.Brilliantbluespotsalsoliescattered different being sluggish and having a tough leathery skin as
on the surface. Parapodia are bright red, which can be seen compared to soft bodies of other nudibranchs. They feed on
only when the flaps are open. calcareous sponges. It is known that young individuals have
Status: Abundant. black rhinophores, whereas adults have yellow. In young
individuals, body surface is dotted with black spots, whereas
Thuridilla livida (Baba, 1955) (Fig. Iw) the adult is uniformly yellow. The specimen is collected at
India: Lakshadweep. 20mdepth. Itisanuncommon speciesfromLakshadweep.
Extralimital Distribution: Western Australia, Papua Status: Uncommon.
NewGuinea,Guam,MarshallIsland.AlsoknownfromSouth
Family: Gymnodorididae
Africa,Aldabraand the Seychelles.
Size: 10mm. Gymnodoris sp. (Fig. 2c)
India: Lakshadweep.
Description: Itisaverysmallslug.Thebodycolouris
Extralimital Distribution: Notknown.
deep reddish brown. Parapodia are bright red, which can be
seen only when the flaps are open. The parapodia are lined Size: 30 mm.
with a series oflongitudinal lines oforange, black and blue. Description: Itisasmallanduncommonseaslug. Body
Head is deep red brown, rhinophores are dark brown at the colour is yellow, profusely spotted with red spots.
base with white tips. It is a common species from reefs of Rhinophoresareyellowandribbed. Gillsarecentrallyplaced
on the dorsal side.
Lakshadweep.
Status: Uncommon.
Status: Uncommon.
Gymnodoris ceylonica Kelaart, 1885 (Fig. 2d)
Thuridilla vatae (Risbec, 1928) (Fig. lx)
India: GulfofMannar.
India: Lakshadweep.
Extralimital Distribution: Australia to Japan and
Extralimital Distribution: Vanuatu, Australia,
across to Red Sea. Indo-West Pacific.
Reunion Island, South Africa, Philippines, Aldabra, Japan, Size: 55 mm.
Guam, and Marshall Islands.
Description: Largecongregationsofthisspeciescanbe
Size: 10mm. seeninshallowlagoonwatersofLakshadweepduringOctober-
Description: These small sacoglossan slugs are November. Mostly present on sandy substrate. The white-
herbivorous. The body is blue black and profusely colouredbodyisprofuselyspottedwithredspots.Thefoothas
spottedwithyellow.Therhinophoresarewhite withredtips. brightredmargin.Gillsarecentrallyplaced.Bodyistransparent
Status: Rare. totheextentthatinternalbodyorgans,aswellasyellowstrands
Plakobranchus ocellatus Hassett, 1824 (Fig. 2a) ofeggcapsules,areclearlyvisible.Itprefersdead,brokencoral
India: GulfofKutch,Andaman. pieces to lay eggs. Eggs are laid in yellow colour strands on
Extralimital Distribution: Red Sea,Thailand, Japan, coralmbble.TheyfeedonStylocheilusstriatus.
AustraliatoHawaii, SolomonIs., SouthAfrica, Philippines, Status: Seasonallycommon.
Indonesia. Gymnodoris alba (Bergh, 1877) (Fig. 2e)
Size: 40mm. India: Lakshadweep.
Description: It is a herbivorous slug. Body surface is Extralimital Distribution: Japan, China, Indonesia,
very slimy. The species shows wide colour variation. The Australia, Hawaii, Singapore, Philippines, SouthernAfrica.
parapodia are light brown dotted with yellow spots. These Size: 20 mm.
spots are encircled with white rings. The base ofparapodia Description: Itisasmall seaslugandmostlyfoundon
bears large light blue spots encircled by black ring. These sandy substrate.The light orange orcreamcoloured body is
small sea slugs are burrowing in nature. They prefer sand profusely spottedwithbrightorangespots. Rhinophoresare
flats with silty substrate. white orpale orange. Gills are white.
Status: Abundant. Status: Uncommon.
J. BombayNat. Hist. Soc., 106(2), May-Aug 2009 169
OPISTHOBRANCH FAUNA OF LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS
Family: Chromodorididae portion is dotted with white spots. Foot is lightpurple with
Chromodoris cfsetoensis Baba, 1938 (Fig. 2f) white spots. Rhinophoresare stalked, white andribbedwith
India: Lakshadweep. twodistinctorange bands. Gills are white withtwodistinct
ExtralimitalDistribution:NorthernIndianOcean,West orange bands.
Pacific,SriLanka,ArabianSea,LordHoweIs.(SouthPacific). Status: Uncommon.
Size: 16 mm.
Description: It is a tiny sea slug from reefs. Ground Hypselodorisinfucata (Ruppell & Leuckart, 1828)(Fig. 2j)
colouriswhitewithahighlydecoratedsurface.Mantlemargin India: GulfofKutch.
is deep orange. A row of deep purple spots along mantle Extralimital Distribution: Indo-West Pacific, India,
margin are distinctly visible. Three white lines run Red Sea, Indonesia, Vietnam, New Caledonia, Israel. South
longitudinally on the back of which one is centrally Africa, Philippines.
positioned. All the three lines meet each other at both the Size: 30mm.
ends. Rhinophores and gills are white and ribbed. Foot is Description: The ground colour is light purple grey
shortandwhiteincolour. However, Rudman(1986)considers profusely spotted with black and yellow spots. Rhinophores
it as acolourform ofC. decora (Pease 1860). are red and finely ribbed. Gills are white with a red margin.
Status: Uncommon. Status: Very rare.
Chromodorisfidelis (Kelaart, 1858) (Fig. 2g) Hypselodoris maridadilus Rudman, 1977 (Fig. 2k)
India: Lakshadweep,Andaman. India: Lakshadweep.
ExtralimitalDistribution:NewCaledonia,HongKong, ExtralimitalDistribution: Maldives,Tanzania,South
Japan, Red Sea,Australia, Seychelles, Indonesia, Malaysia, Africa, Mauritius, Kenya, Red Sea, Hawaii.
PapuaNew Guinea. Size: 20mm.
Size: 35 mm. Description: It is a small and brilliantly coloured sea
Description: The base colour is white with brilliant slug.Fivepurple-violetbandsarepresentontheyelloworange
deepredcolourundulatingmargin.Thewhiteandredcolour ground colour. The foot and mantle have a purple border.
is separated by a continuous black band. Foot is white. Rhinophores and gills are deep orange red.
Rhinophores and gills are blackand ribbed. Status: Very Rare.
Status: Uncommon. Family: Discodorididae
Glossodoris cincta (Bergh, 1888) (Fig. 2h) Peltodoris murrea (Abraham, 1877) (Fig. 21)
India: Lakshadweep. Syn: Peltodorismauritiana Bergh, 1889
ExtralimitalDistribution: RedSeatoTanzaniaacross India: GulfofKutch.
to Japan and Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Maldives, Extralimital Distribution: Maldives, Mauritius,
Hong Kong. Reunion to New Caledonia andJapan.
Size: 60mm. Size: 30 mm.
Description: A medium-sized sea slug that remains Description:Asmall Peltodorisusuallyseeninshallow
inside crevices during the day. The species has three colour pools and under coral boulders. Body is white with a few
forms: Red Sea-East Africa; Maldives-N. Australia and black spots. Rhinophores are yellow.
W. Pacific.Thebodycolourisdeepredbrown. Mantle flaps Status: Uncommon.
arefrilledandbrilliantblueandyellow.Footisdeepredbrown Family: Kentrodorididae
with a blue margin. Rhinophores are ribbed and blue with a Jorunnarubescens Bergh, 1876 (Fig. 2m)
red base. Gills are white with blue edge.
Syn: Kentrodoris rubescens (Bergh, 1876)
Status: Uncommon.
India: Lakshadweep.
Hypselodoris maculosa (Pease, 1871) (Fig. 2i) Extralimital Distribution: Mauritius, Sri Lanka,
Syn: Chromodorisdecorata (Risbec, 1928) Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia,
India: Lakshadweep. Philippines, Solomon Is., Japan,Vietnam.
Extralimital Distribution: Tanzania, Red Sea, Size: 200 mm.
Philippines, Australia, China, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia, Description: This large slug is nocturnal and can be
PapuaNew Guinea, Lord Howe Is. (South Pacific). encounteredeasilyinshallowlagoonsofLakshadweepduring
Size: 30mm. night dives. Body is soft. Brachial pocket is large which
Description: The ground colour is white with a encloses gills and is present in the centre of the body.
brilliant deep red and undulating margin. Head and tail Rhinophoresareribbedandenclosedinalargepocket.Ground
170 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 106(2), May-Aug 2009
OPISTHOBRANCH FAUNA OF LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS
colouriscreamypinkwithirregularlongitudinalbrownlines. Tanzania, UAE, Maldives, Japan, Sri Lanka, Chagos,
Eggcapsules are pink andlaid in circularrings. Seychelles,Mauritius,Indonesia.
Status: Abundant. Size: 200 mm.
Description: Itisalarge seaslug. Lightyellowbrown
Jorunnafunebris (Kelaart, 1858) (Fig. 2n) incolour,surfaceishighlywarty. Rhinophoresarewithshort
India: GulfofKutch,Andaman and Nicobar, Gulfof stalk, brown in colour and highly ribbed. Gills are feathery
Mannar,Lakshadweep. and brown in colour. Red semi-circular band on the foot is
Extralimital Distribution: Red Sea, Oman, Maldives, diagnostic ofthis species. Egg case isbrilliantredin colour.
AustraliatoJapan,PapuaNewGuinea,HongKong,Singapore. Status: Common.
Size: 50 mm.
Description: The surface ofthis sea slug has a rough Family: Phyllidiidae
texture, atypical characterofthe genus. Blackrings present Phyllidia coelestis Bergh, 1905 (Fig. 2r)
onthewhitebody areroughtotouch. Rhinophoresare black India: Lakshadweep,Andaman.
andribbedwith awhitebase. Gills areblack. Breedingpairs Extralimital Distribution: South Africa to South
are common in shallow lagoons of Lakshadweep during China Sea, Australia to Fiji, Philippines, Japan, Papua New
winter. Guinea,Indonesia,Malaysia,SriLanka,PacificOcean,Indo-
Status: Abundant. West Pacific Ocean.
Size: 60mm.
Family: Platydorididae Description: Body surface is highly warty and lacks
Platydoris cruenta (Quoy and Gaimard, 1832) (Fig. 2o) dorsal gill. The base colour is blue to grey blue. The dorsal
Syn: Platydorisstriata (Kelaart, 1858) surfacehasthreeblackbandsofwhichthecentralblackband
India: Lakshadweep. has yellow tubercles and is broken. The rhinophores are
ExtralimitalDistribution: RedSea,ChristmasIsland, yellow.Thefootsoleisgreyandhasnoblacklineormarkings
Indo-WestPacific. as seen in P. varicosa and P. elegans.
Size: 20 mm. Status: Abundant.
Description: It is a small, bright yellow orange slug
profusely marked with bright red to brown irregular lines. Phyllidia varicosa Lamarck, 1801 (Fig. 2s)
Rhinophores are yellow and highly ribbed. Gills are yellow Syn: Phyllidia arabica Ehrenbergh, 1831; Phyllidia
withbrown margin. trilineata Cuvier, 1804a; Phyllidia borbonica Cuvier, 1804b;
Status: Uncommon. PhyllidiafasciolataBergh, 1869;PhyllidiahonloniRisbec, 1956.
India: Lakshadweep,Andaman.
Family: Dorididae ExtralimitalDistribution: Mauritius,Seychelles,Red
Halgerda tessellata (Bergh, 1880) (Fig. 2p) Sea,SriLankatoHawaii,Japan,Africa, PapuaNewGuinea,
India: Lakshadweep. Thailand, Malaysia,Australia.
Extralimital Distribution: Madagascar, Kenya, Size: 90mm.
Thailand to Micronesia, Australia, Maldives, Mozambique, Description: It is a large slug, and as in all other
SouthAfricaandEastAfrica, Japan. membersofthe family, the body surface ishighly warty and
Size: 20 mm. lacksdorsalgills.The speciesshowsremarkablevariationin
Description: This small seaslugisabundantly seenin colour and body pattern. The rhinophores are yellow. The
Lakshadweep reefs. It is mostly active in the late evening. foot sole has abroken blackmedian line.
Thebodycolourisdeeporangeyellowwithserratedoutcrops. Status: Abundant.
Surfacebearsdarkbrownsquarishandlargespots,whichare
scattered with silvery white spots. Rhinophores are stalked, Phyllidia alyta Yonow, 1996 (Fig. 2t)
ribbed andblack in colour. Ablack line runs from the tip of India: Lakshadweep,Andaman.
the rhinophores to the bottom of the rhinophores. Gills are Extralimital Distribution: Maldives.
brown; foot is long andhas amedian brown line. Size: 90mm.
Status: Abundant. Description: It is a large slug. Dorsal surface bears
fourlongitudinal blacklines. Ofthese, thecentral twobegin
Asteronotus cespitosus (Hasselt, 1824) (Fig. 2q) justbehindtherhinophorestilltheanalpapilla.Ablackband
Syn:DoriscespitosusVanHasselt, 1824,D. mauritiana is distinctly visible connecting both rhinophores. The
Quoy & Gaimard, 1832, D.foetida Pease, 1860. rhinophores are light to deep yellow or orange-yellow. The
India: Lakshadweep,Andaman. foot sole has abrokenblack median line.
ExtralimitalDistribution:Australia,RedSea,Hawaii, Status: Common.
1 Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 106(2), May-Aug 2009 171
