Polyclad fauna of Agatti Island, Lakshadweep, India: new records and description of two new species
Author
Dixit, Sudhanshu
Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology, Kochi, India
sid2130@gmail.com
Author
Bayyana, Sharad
Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology, Kochi, India
Author
Manjebrayakath, Hashim
Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology, Kochi, India
Author
Saravanane, N.
Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology, Kochi, India
Author
Sudhakar, M.
Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology, Kochi, India
text
Zootaxa
2019
2019-08-19
4657
2
246
260
journal article
22700
10.11646/zootaxa.4657.2.2
21911204-80d5-439b-b1ca-f2db0588f024
1175-5326
3769114
3708F04B-C342-464B-882E-583C4101C977
Pseudoceros bicolor
Verrill, 1901
(
Fig. 2d
)
Material examined: One specimen (11 x
9 mm
) preserved in 10% formalin; collected on
05.05.2018
from eastern jetty,
15m
depth (
10°52′46′′N
72°12′21′′E
), Agatti Island,
Lakshadweep
. (Regn. No. IO/DV/POY/00004)
Description: Background colour yellow to light brown, numerous minute white spots present all over body except margins; marginal band white with greyish transversal stripes; dorsal longitudinal band speckled with interrupted brown and white blotches; pseudotentacles developed and square like, shaded with white and brown.
Distribution:
Lakshadweep
,
India
(present study);
Bermuda
(
Verrill 1901
);
Colombia
(
Quiroga
et al.
2004
);
Jamaica
;
Belize
; Hounduras;
Panama
(
Rawlinson 2008
);
Brazil
(
Bahia
et al.
2014
)
Remarks: This species is very similar to
Pseudoceros rawlinsonae
in terms of colours and can only be differentiated on the basis of presence or absence of the marginal band or the colour of the marginal band. In
P. bicolor
the marginal may be absent, or is yellow to greenish when present while in
P. rawlinsonae
is golden yellow to orange. Our specimen shows no golden yellow to orange marginal band, which agrees with one of the morphological variations of
P. bicolor
.
This is a new record to Indian waters.