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Home , Acropora anthocercis, Acropora cerealis, Acropora cophodactyla, Acropora robusta, Acropora samoensis, Astreopora incrustans

Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research 23 (10): 2493-2499, 2015 ISSN 1990-9233 © IDOSI Publications, 2015 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.mejsr.2015.23.10.96215

Rutland Island: One of the Most Important Scleractinian Nourishing Grounds of Andaman and Nicobar Islands,

11Tamal Mondal, C. Raghunathan and 2 K. Venkataraman

1Zoological Survey of India Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, – 744 102 Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India 2Zoological Survey of India, M-Block, New Alipore. Kolkata-700 053, India

Abstract: Labyrinth Islands have been contributing a great deal of faunal and floral lives in total biodiversity of Andaman and Nicobar Islands in due course of time. represents a total 331 species of scleractinian out of a total 581 species from Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Though hard corals are reported under 15 families from this island, and Faviidae families represent 51.36% species among them, whereas only 1 species are reported for Astrocoeniidae family. Scleractinians are the building blocks of marine ecosystem. The presence of diversified scleractinian under 70 genera describes static variation of hermatypic and ahermatypic corals which leads to support enormous associated faunal communities. The present paper dealt with the diversity of scleractinian species with respect to genus and family in Rutland Island.

Key words: Scleractinian Corals Diversity Rutland Island Andaman and Nicobar Islands

INTRODUCTION The seas around the islands encounter a great deal of marine organisms with the base of coral reefs as the Being a major part of Labyrinth group of Islands, building blocks. A living coral reef ecosystem is one of Rutland Island lies at the southern region of Andaman the most glorious and fantastic sights on our planet [4]. group separated by Duncan Passage from They are a key part of the natural heritage with a good Island. The island is located in between 11º28’ to11º20’N deal of productivity. The scleractinians of these islands and 92º35 to 92º45E with a total area of 137.2 Km2 and are well distributed as fringing reef [5]. The western areas around 60 km coast line across the Macpherson Strait of this island fall under Mahatma Gandhi Marine National from South Andaman (Fig. 1). The Rutland Island is the Park. The present study was made to quantify the part of the Burma-Andaman-Java subduction complex scleractinian lives on the continental shelf regions of dominantly with rugged terrain. Major tectono- Rutland Island as it is prerequisite for the effective stratigraphic elements in these islands striking N–S are management and conservation of this vast island with approximately analogous to the trend of the Java Trench marine ecosystem. [1-3]. Mount Ford is the highest peak with 435m height. The orientation of mountain and its formation has given MATERIALS AND METHODS rise to convoluted coastline, inlets and bays around this island. There are lots of variation in the slope pattern of The study was conducted at fifteen stations on this island and its continental shelf regions such as the reef areas of Rutland Island from July 2009 to June central potion is in between 0º and 10º, south western is 2014 to explore the scleractinian lives (Fig. 1). Primary in between 10º and 20º, south eastern is in between 10º observations were made by Manta tow study method and 40º, southern is in between 0º and 20º, north western [6, 7]. Line Intercept Transect Method [8, 9] was applied is in between 10º and 20º whereas north eastern is in to measure the live cover percentage of the reef areas of between 25º and 80º. The island is a treasure-trove of Rutland Island. A series of 20 m transects were placed at biodiversity in both terrestrial and marine aspects. random sampling method by Self Contained Underwater

Corresponding Author: Tamal Mondal, Zoological Survey of India Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, Port Blair – 744 102 Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Tel: +91-9433010769. 2493 Middle-East J. Sci. Res., 23 (10): 2493-2499, 2015

Table 1: Continued Sl. No. Family/ Genera/ Species 6. vaughani Wells, 1954 7. Acropora nasuta (Dana, 1846) 8. (Brook, 1893) 9. Acropora valenciennesi (Milne Edwards and Haime, 1860) 10. Acropora divaricata (Dana, 1846) 11. Acropora striata (Verrill, 1866) 12. (Dana, 1846) 13. Acropora forskali (Ehrenberg, 1834) 14. Acropora plana Nemenzo, 1967 15. Acropora torresiana Veron, 2000 16. Acropora carduus (Dana, 1846) 17. Acropora pectinata Veron, 2000 18. Acropora insignis Nemenzo, 1967 19. Acropora sqarrosa (Ehrenberg, 1834) 20. Acropora sekiseiensis Veron, 1990 21. Acropora yongei Veron and Wallace, 1984 22. Acropora caroliana Nemenzo, 1976 23. Acropora chesterfieldensis Veron and Wallace, 1984 24. Acropora latistella (Brook, 1891) 25. Acropora polystoma (Brook, 1892) 26. Acropora microclados (Ehrenberg, 1834) 27. Acropora copiosa Nemenzo, 1967 28. Acropora robusta (Dana, 1846) 29. Acropora digitifera (Dana, 1846) 30. Acropora subuata (Dana, 1846) 31. (Brook, 1892) 32. Acropora horrida (Dana, 1846) 33. Wells, 1954 34. Acropora selago (Studer, 1878) 35. Acropora papillare Latypov, 1992 36. Acropora elseyi (Brrok, 1892) Fig. 1: Study areas of Rutland Island andaman and 37. Acropora cerealis (Dana, 1846) 38. Acropora hemprichii (Ehrenberg, 1834) Nicobar Islands 39. Acropora tenuis (Dana, 1845) 40. Acropora bruggemanni (Brook, 1893) Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) diving and snorkeling 41. Acropora echinata Dana, 1846 42. Acropora exquisita Nemenzo, 1971 during the above said study period. The reef areas are 43. Acropora variolosa (Klunzinger, 1879) around 500m from the shoreline. Digitization of individual 44. Acropora longicyathus (Milne Edwards and Haime, 1860) species was made by underwater camera (Sony-Cyber 45. Acropora massawensis Marenzeller, 1906 46. Acropora monticulosa (Bruggemann, 1879) Shot, Model-T900, marine pack, 12.1 megapixels). Species 47. Acropora rudis (Rehberg, 1892) individual photos were identified in conjunction with 48. Acropora formosa (Dana, 1846) Veron and Pichon [10-12], Veron et al. [13] Veron and 49. Acropora tutuilensis (Hoffmeister, 1925) 50. Acropora loripes (Brook, 1892) Wallace [14], Veron [15] and Wallace [16]. 51. Acropora hyacinthus (Dana, 1846) 52. Acropora natalensis Riegl, 1995 RESULTS 53. Acropora secale (Studer, 1878) 54. Acropora samoensis (Brook, 1891) 55. Acropora pinguis Wells, 1950 With this extensive exploration, 331 species of 56. Acropora florida (Dana, 1846) scleractinian corals, belong to 70 genera and 15 families, 57. Acropora palifera (Lamarck,1816) 58. Acropora cateriformis (Gardiner, 1898) were recorded from Rutland Island (Table 1). 59. Acropora donei Veron and Wallace, 1984 Genus:Montipora de Blainville, 1830 Table 1: Scleractinian corals of Rutland Island 60. Montipora verrucosa (Lamarck, 1816) Sl. No. Family/ Genera/ Species 61. Montipora informis Bernard, 1897 Family: ACROPORIDAE Verrill, 1902 62. Montipora verruculosus Veron, 2000 Genus: Acropora Oken, 1815 63. Montipora meandrina (Ehrenberg, 1834) 1. Acropora gemmifera (Brook, 1896) 64. Montipora florida Nemenzo, 1967 2. Acropora elizabethensis Veron, 2000 65. Montipora vietnemensis Veron, 2000 66. Montipora undata Bernard, 1897 3. Acropora cuneata (Dana, 1846) 67. Montipora turtlensis Veron and Wallace, 1984 4. Acropora granulosa (Milne Edwards and Haime, 1860) 68. Montipora mollis Bernard, 1897 5. Acropora grandis (Brook, 1892) 69. Montipora hispida (Dana, 1846)

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Table 1: Continued Table 1: Continued Sl. No. Family/ Genera/ Species Sl. No. Family/ Genera/ Species 70. Montipora taiwanensis Veron, 2000 120. Pavona calvus (Dana, 1846) 71. Montipora verrilli Vaughan, 1907 121. Pavona venosa (Ehrenberg, 1834) 72. Montipora spumosa (Lamarck, 1816) 122. Pavona decussata (Dana, 1846) 73. Montipora peltiformis Bernard, 1897 123. Pavona diffluens (Lamarck, 1816) 74. Montipora venosa (Ehrenberg, 1834) 124. Pavona varians Verrill, 1864 75. Monntipora caliculata (Dana, 1846) 125. Pavona bipartita Nemenzo, 1980 76. Montipora angulata (Lamarck, 1816) 126. Pavona explanulata (Lamarck, 1816) 77. Montipora grisea Bernard, 1897 Genus:Coeloseris Vaughan,1918 78. Montipora efflorescens Bernard, 1897 127. Coeleseris mayeri Vaughan, 1918 79. Montipora effusa Dana, 1846 Genus:Leptoseris Milne Edwards and Haime,1849 80. Montipora monasteriata (Forskal, 1775) 128. Leptoseris mycetoseroides Wells, 1954 81. Montipora corbettensis Veron and Wallace, 1984 82. Montipora porites Veron, 2000 129. Leptoseris explanata Yaba and Sugiyama, 1941 83. Montipora gaimardi (Bernard, 1897) 130. Leptoseris hawaiensis Vaughan, 1907 131. Leptoseris solida (Quelch, 1886) Genus: Astreoporade Blainville,1830 84. myriphthalma (Lamarck, 1816) 132. Leptoseris cuculata (Ellis and Solander, 1786) 85. Astreopora suggesta Wells, 1954 133. Leptoseris incrustans (Quelch, 1886) 86. Astreopora incrustans Bernard, 1896 134. Leptoseris yabei (Pillai and Scheer, 1976) 87. Astreopora ocellata Bernard, 1896 135. Leptoseris striata Fenner and Veron, 2000 88. Astreopora listeri Bernard, 1896 136. Leptoseris foliosa Dinesen, 1980 Family: Gray, 1842 Family:ASTROCOENIIDAE Koby, 1890 Genus:Pocillopora Lamarck, 1816 Genus:StylocoeniellaYabe and Sugiyama, 1935 89. Pocillopora damicornis (Linnaeus,1758) 137. Stylocoeniella guentheri Bassett-Smith, 1890 90. Pocillopora eydouxi Milne Edwards and Haime, 1860 Family:FUNGIIDAE Dana,1846 91. Pocillopora elegans Dana, 1846 Genus:Cantharellus Hoeksema and Best, 1984 92. Pocillopora woodjonesi Vaughan, 1918 138. Cantharellus doederleini (Marenzeller, 1907) 93. Pocillopora verrucosa (Ellis and Solander, 1786) Genus:Cycloseris Milne Edwards and Haime,1849 94. Pocillopora meandrina Dana, 1846 139. Cycloseris costulata (Ortmann, 1889) 95. Pocillopora kelleheri Veron, 2000 140. Cycloseris patelliformis (Boschma, 1923) Genus:Stylophora Schweigger, 1819 141. Cycloseris colini Veron, 2000 96. Stylophora pistillata Esper, 1797 142. Cycloseris vaughani (Boschma, 1923) 97. Stylophora danae Milne Edwards and Haime, 1850 Genus:Ctenactis Verrill, 1864 98. Stylophora subseriata (Ehrenberg, 1834) 143. Cteanactis echinata (Pallas, 1766) Genus: Lamarck, 1816 144. Cteanactis crassa (Dana, 1846) 99. Seriatopora hystrix Dana, 1846 145. Ctenactis triangularis(Tamal Mondal and C.Raghunathan, 2013) 100. Seriatopora stellata Quelch, 1886 146. Ctenactis albitentanculata Hoeksema, 1989 101. Quelch, 1886 Genus:Fungia Lamarck,1801 Family: OCULINIDAE Gray,1847 147. Fungia scutaria Lamarck, 1801 Genus: Galaxea Oken, 1815 148. Fungia paumotensis Stutchbury,1833 102. Galaxea fascicularis (Linnaeus,1767) 103. Galaxea astreata (Lamarck, 1816) 149. Fungia danai Milne Edwards and Haime, 1851 150. Fungia fungites (Linnaeus, 1758) Family: SIDERASTERIDAE Vaughan and Wells, 1943 151. Fungia concinna Verrill, 1864 Genus:Psammocora Dana, 1846 104. Psammocora digitata Milne Edwards and Haime, 1851 152. Fungia scabra Doderlein, 1901 105. Psammocora profundacella Gardiner, 1898 153. Fungia horrida Dana, 1846 106. Psammocora haimeana Milne Edwards and Haime, 1851 154. Fungia repanda Dana, 1846 107. Psammocora obtusangula (Lamarck, 1816) 155. Fungia klunzingeri Doderlein, 1901 108. Psammocora nierstraszi Horst, 1921 156. Fungia corona Doderlein, 1901 Genus:Siderastrea de Blainville, 1830 157. Fungia granulousa Klunzinger, 1879 109. Siderastrea radians (Pallas, 1766) 158. Fungia sruposa Klunzinger, 1879 Genus:Coscinaracea Milne Edwards and Haime,1848 Genus:Sandalolitha Quelch, 1884 110. Coscinaraea monile (Forskal, 1775) 159. Sandalolitha dentata Quelch, 1884 111. Coscinaraea crassa Veron and Pichon, 1980 160. Sandalolitha robusta Quelch, 1886 112. Coscinaraea columna (Dana, 1846) Genus:Herpolitha Eschscholtz, 1825 Family: AGARICIIDAE Gray, 1847 161. Herpolitha weberi Horst, 1921 Genus:Pachyseris Milne Edwards and Haime, 1849 162. Herpolitha limax (Houttuyn, 1772) 113. Pachyseris gemmae Nemenzo,1955 Genus:PolyphylliaQuoy and Gaimard,1833 114. Pachyseris rugosa (Lamarck, 1801) 163. Polyphyllia talpina (Lamarck, 1801) 115. Pachyseris speciosa (dana, 1846) Genus:Podabacia Milne Edwards and Haime,1849 Genus:Gardineroseris Scheer and Pillai, 1974 164. Podabacia lankaensis Veron, 2000 116. Gardineroseris planulata (Dana, 1846) 165. Podabacia crustacea (Pallas, 1766) Genus:Pavona Lamarck,1801 166. Podabacia sinai Veron, 2000 117. Pavona duerdeni Vaughan, 1907 Genus:Lithophyllon Rehberg, 1892 118. Pavona minuta Wells, 1954 167. Lithophyllon lobata Horst, 1921 119. Pavona cactus (Forskal, 1775) 168. Lithophyllon undulatum Rehberg, 1892

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Table 1: Continued Table 1: Continued Sl. No. Family/ Genera/ Species Sl. No. Family/ Genera/ Species Family: MUSSIDAE Ortmann, 1890 218. Favites chinensis (Verrill, 1866) Genus:Symphyllia Milne Edwards and Haime, 1848 219. Favites flexuosa (Dana, 1846) 169. Symphyllia recta (Dana, 1846) 220. Favites paraflexuosa Veron, 2000 170. Symphyllia agaricia Milne Edwards and Haime, 1849 221. Favites pentagona (Esper, 1794) 171. Symphyllia hassi Pillai and Scheer, 1976 222. Favites complanata (Ehrenberg, 1834) 172. Symphyllia erythraea (Klunzinger, 1879) 223. Favites russelli (Wells, 1954) 173. Symphyllia radians Milne Edwards and Haime, 1849 224. Favites vasta (Klunzinger, 1879) 174. Symphyllia valenciennessii Milne Edwards and Haime, 1849 225. Favites spinosa (Klunzinger, 1879) Genus:Lobophyllia de Blainville, 1830 Genus:Platygyra Ehrenberg, 1834 175. Lobophyllia hemprichii (Ehrenberg, 1834) 226. Platygyra pini Chevalier, 1975 176. Lobphyllia robusta Yabe and Sugiyama, 1936 227. Platygyra sinensis (Milne Edwards and Haime, 1849) 177. Lobophyllia corymbosa (Forskal, 1775) 228. Platygura ryukyuensis Yabe and Sugiyama, 1936 178. Lobophyllia pachysepta Chevalier, 1975 229. Platygyra deadalea (Ellis and Solander, 1786) Genus:Isophyllia Milne Edwards and Haime, 1851 230. Platygyra crosslandi Matthai, 1928 179. Isophyllia rigida (Dana, 1846) 231. Platygyra acuta Veron, 2000 Genus:Australomussa Veron, 1985 232. Platygyra lamellina (Ehrenberg, 1834) 180. Australomussa rowleyensis Veron, 1985 233. Platygyra verweyi Wijsman-Best, 1976 Genus:Scolymia Haime, 1852 234. Platygyra contorta Veron, 1990 181. Scolymia australis (Milne Edwards and Haime, 1849) 182. Scolymia cubensis (Milne Edwards and Hame, 1849) Genus:Oulophyllia Edwards and Haime, 1848 183. Scolymia vitiensis Bruggemann, 1877 235. Oulophyllia levis (Nemenzo, 1959) Genus:Acanthastrea Milne Edwards and Haime, 1848 236. Oulophyllia crispa (Lamarck, 1816) 184. Acanthastrea faviaformis Veron, 2000 Genus:Montastrea de Blainville, 1830 185. Acanthastrea hemprichii (Ehrenberg, 1834) 237. Montastrea curta (Dana, 1846) 186. Acanthastrea echinata (Dana, 1846) 238. Montastrea colemani Veron, 2000 187. Acanthastrea regularis Veron, 2000 239. Montastrea annuligera Milne Edwards and Haime, 1849 188. Acanthastrea brevis Milne Edwards and Haime, 1849 240. Montastrea cavernosa (Linneaus, 1766) 189. Acanthastrea maxima Sheppard and Salm, 1988 241. Montastrea maagnistellata Chevalier, 1971 Family: FAVIIDAE Gregory, 1900 242. Montastrea salebrosa (Nemenzo, 1955) Genus:Favia Oken, 1815 243. Montastrea annularis (Ellis and Solander, 1786) 190. Favia danae Verrill, 1872 244. Montastrea valenciennesi (Milne Edwards and Haime, 1860) 191. Favia maxima Veron and Pichon, 1977 Genus:Barabattoia Yabe and Sugiyama, 1941 192. Favia lizardensis Veron and Pichon, 1977 245. Barabattoia amicorum (Milne Edwards and Haime, 1830) 193. Favia speciosa Dana, 1846 246. Barabattoia laddi (Wells, 1954) 194. Favia marshae Veron, 2000 Genus:Leptastrea Milne Edwards and Haime, 1848 195. Favia favus (Forskal, 1775) 247. Leptastrea purpurea (Dana, 1846) 196. Favia helianthoides Wells, 1954 197. Favia rotumana (Gardiner, 1899) 248. Leptastrea pruinosa Crossland, 1952 198. Favia rotundata (Veron and Pichon, 1977) 249. Leptastrea aequalis Veron, 2000 199. Favia pallida (Dana, 1846) 250. Leptastrea transversa Klunzinger, 1879 200. Favia matthaii Vaughan, 1918 Genus:Goniastrea Milne Edwards and Haime,1848 201. Favia stelligera (Dana, 1846) 251. Goniastrea edwardsi Chevalier, 1971 202. Favia maritima (Nemenzo, 1971) 252. Goniastrea retiformis (Lamarck, 1816) 203. Favia truncatus Veron, 2000 253. Goniastrea pectinata (Ehrenberg, 1834) 204. Favia albidusVeron, 2000 254. Goniastrea minuta Veron, 2000 205. Favia veroni Moll and Borel-Best, 1984 255. Goniastrea aspera Verrill, 1905 206. Favia laxa (Klunzinger, 1879) 256. Goniastrea palauensis (Yabe and Sugiyama, 1936) Genus:Caulastrea Dana, 1846 257. Goniastrea favulus (Dana, 1846) 207. Caulastrea furcata Dana, 1846 Genus:Cyphastrea Milne Edwards and Haime, 1848 Genus:Plesiastrea Milne Edwards and Haime, 1848 258. Cyphastrea japonica Yabe and Sugiyama, 1932 208. Plesiastrea versipora (Lamarck, 1816) 259. Cyphastrea ocellina (Dana, 1864) Genus:Leptoria Milne Edwards and Haime,1848 260. Cyphastrea serailia (Forskal, 1775) 209. Leptoria irregularis Veron, 1990 261. Cyphastrea chalcidicum (Forskal, 1775) 210. Leptoria phrygia (Ellis and Solander, 1786) 262. Cyphastrea microphthalma (Lamarck, 1816) Genus:Diploastrea Matthai, 1914 263. Cyphastrea agassizi (Vaughan, 1907) 211. Diploastrea heliopora (Lamarck, 1816) Genus:Colpophyllia Milne Edwards and Haime, 1848 Genus:Oulastrea Milne Edwards and Haime, 1848 264. Colpophyllia natans (Houttuyn, 1772) 212. Oulastrea crispata (Lamarck, 1816) Genus:Echinopora Lamarck, 1816 Genus:Favites Link, 1807 265. Echinopora pacificus Veron, 1990 213. Favites abdita (Ellis and Solander, 1786) 266. Echinopora fruticulosa (Ehrenberg, 1834) 214. Favites acuticollis (Ortmann, 1889) 267. Echinopora lamellosa (Espper, 1795) 215. Favites micropentagona Veron, 2000 268. Echinopora forskaliana (Milne Edwards and Haime, 1849) 216. Favites bestae Veron, 2000 269. Echinopora hirsutissima Milne Edwards and Haime, 1849 217. Favites halicora (Ehrenberg, 1834) 270. Echinopora gammacea Lamarck, 1816

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Table 1: Continued Table 1: Continued Sl. No. Family/ Genera/ Species Sl. No. Family/ Genera/ Species Family: PECTINIIDAE Vaughan and Wells, 1943 Genus:Tubastrea Lesson, 1829 Genus:Oxypora Saville Kent,1871 315. Tubastrea coccinea Lesson, 1829 271. Oxypora crassispinosa Nemenzo, 1979 316. Tubastrea diaphana Dana, 1846 272. Oxypora glabra Nemenzo, 1959 317. Tubastrea micrantha Ehrenberg, 1834 Genus:Echinophyllia Klunzinger,1879 Genus:RhizopsammiaVerrill, 1869 273. Echinophyllia orpheensis Veron and Pichon, 1980 318. Rhizopsammia verrilli van der Horst, 1922 274. Echinophyllia echinoporoides Veron and Pichon, 1980 Genus:Balanophyllia Wood, 1844 275. Echinophyllia aspera (Ellis and Solander, 1786) 319. Balanophyllia merguiensis Duncan, 1889 Genus:Mycedium Oken,1815 320. Balanophyllia vanderhorsti Cairns, 2001 276. Mycedium elephantotus (Pallas, 1766) Family: EUPHYLLIDAE Veron, 2000 Genus:Pectinia Oken, 1815 Genus:Physogyra Quelch, 1884 277. Pectinia paeonia (Dana, 1846) 321. Physogyra lichtensteini (Milne Edwards and Haime, 1851) 278. Pectinia alcicornis (Saville-Kent, 1871) Genus:Plerogyra Milne Edwards and Haime, 1848 279. Pectinia lactuca (Pallas, 1766) 322. Plerogyra sinuosa (Dana, 1846) Genus:Echinomorpha Veron, 2000 Genus:Catalaphyllia Wells, 1971 280. Echinomorpha nishihirai (Veron, 1990) 323. Catalaphyllia jardinei (Saville-Kent, 1893) Genus:Euphyllia Dana, 1846 Family: Gray, 1842 324. Euphyllia glabrescens (Chamisso Eysenhardt, 1821) Genus:Porites Link, 1807 325. Euphyllia paraglabrescens Veron, 2000 281. Porites solida (Forskal, 1775) 326. Euphyllia ancora Veron and Pichon, 1980 282. Porites murrayensis Vaughaan, 1918 327. Euphyllia crispata Chevalier, 1971 283. Porites monticulosa Dana, 1846 Family:CARYOPHYLLIDAE Gray, 1847 284. Porites cylindrica Dana, 1846 Genus:Heterocyathus Milne Edwards and Haime, 1848 285. Porites latistella (Quelch, 1886) 328. Heterocyathus aequicostatus Milne Edwards and Haime, 1848 286. Porites stephensoni Crossland, 1952 Genus:Paracyathus Milne Edwards and Haime, 1848 287. Porites rus (Forskal, 1775) 329. Paracyathus indicus Duncan, 1899 288. Porites densa Vaughan, 1918 330. Paracyathus stokesi (Milne Edwards and Haime, 1848) 289. Porites lobata Dana, 1846 290. Porites nodifera Klunzinger, 1879 Genus:Polycyathus Duncan, 1889 331. Polycyathus verrilli Duncan, 1889 Genus: de Blainville, 1830 291. Goniopora lobata Milne Edwards and Haime, 1860 292. Goniopora minor Crossland, 1952 Among the identified 331 species, most of them 293. Goniopora columna Dana, 1846 belong to Acroporidae and Faviidae family with the 294. Goniopora eclipsensis Veron and Pichon, 1982 295. Goniopora fruticosa Saville-Kent, 1893 species number of 88 and 82 respectively, while only one 296. Goniopora pearsoni Veron, 2000 representative species was found from Astrocoeniidae 297. Goniopora albiconus Veron, 2000 family (Fig. 2). 298. Goniopora minuta Veron, 2000 Genus:Alveopora de Blainville, 1830 299. Alveopora allingi Hoeffmeister, 1925 300. Alveopora gigas Veron, 1985 Family: MERULINIDAE Verrill,1866 Genus:HydnophoraFischer de Waldheim,1807 301. Hydnophora microconos (Lamarck, 1816) 302. Hydnophora exesa (Pallas, 1766) 303. Hydnophora grandis Gardiner, 1904 304. Hydnophora rigida (Dana, 1846) Genus:Merulina Ehrenberg, 1834 305. Merulina scabricula Dana, 1846 306. Merulina ampliata (Ellis and Solander, 1786) Genus:Scapophyllia Milne Edwards and Haime, 1848 307. Scapophyllia cylindrica Milne Edwards and Haime, 1848 Family: DENDROPHYLLIIDAE Gray, 1847 Fig. 2: Presence of species according to family Genus:TurbinariaOken, 1815 308. Turbinaria reniformis Bernard, 1896 309. Turbinaria peltata (Esper, 1974) DISCUSSION 310. Turbinaria stellulata (Lamarck, 1816) 311. Turbinaria frondens (Dana, 1846) 312. Turbinaria radicalis Bernard, 1896 Scleractinian corals are widely distributed among the 313. Turbinaria mesenterina (Lamarck, 1816) world’s ocean. The corals under this order can be Genus: Dendrophyllia Grey, 1847 classified in two ecological classes like hermatypic corals 314. Dendrophyllia robusta (Bourne,1905) which are distributed mostly throughout tropical and

2497 Middle-East J. Sci. Res., 23 (10): 2493-2499, 2015 subtropical regions shallow [17] whereas the other one i.e. Island, which will be worthy according to biodiversity ahermatypic corals are available in shallow to deep water aspect as corals are basement elements of underwater habitat. Wide distribution pattern of scleractinian marine ecosystem. The species availability and their diversity can be seen depending upon the family, genus conservation will help to nourish the entire biota in and and species in the regions [17]. Andaman and Nicobar around this island during the present time. Islands are most important areas according to the scleractinian diversity in comparison with the other areas ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the world as it harbors 581 species of scleractinian corals under 94 genera and 19 families [18]. Rutland Island Authors are grateful to the Ministry of Environment, is one of the Andaman groups of islands. The presence of Forest and Climate Change, Government of India for a total number of 331 species scleractinian corals of this providing financial assistance to undertake the study island represents 56.97% of scleractinian species of these through the projects of National Coral Reef Research entire Andaman and Nicobar Islands. A total number of 99 Institute, Zoological Survey of India, Port Blair. The species of faviid corals were recorded till now form these authorities of Department of Environment and Forests groups of islands [19-21] whereas 82.82% species of that andaman and Nicobar Administration are duly family can be seen among the scleractinians of this island. acknowledged for the provided support during the field Thirty five species of scleractinian corals were reported as surveys. new record to Andaman and Nicobar Island as well as to Indian waters from this island [22-29]. A total of 141 REFERENCES ecoregions were characterized by Veron et al. [30] to evaluate the scleractinian species diversity of the world’s 1. Pal, T., P.P. Chakraborty, T. Dutta Gupta and ocean. It was recorded that Arafura Sea represents 127 C.D. Singh, 2003. Geodynamic evolution of the outer species, North & central represents 289 species, arc-forearc belt in the , the central South Red Sea represents 297 species, South-east part of the Burma- Java subduction complex. Geol. Arabian coast represents 204 species 204, Gulf of Mag., 140: 289-307. represents only 56 species, Tanzania coast represents 300 2. Pal, T., S.K. Mitra, S. Sengupta, A. Katari, species, South represents 289 species, Burmese P.C. Bandopadhyay and A.K. Bhattacharya, 2007. coast represents only species, North Kyushu & South Dacite-andesites of Narcondam volcano in the Korea represents 166 species, Solitary Islands represents - An imprint of magma mixing in the 114 species, Costa Rica, Panama Pacific coast represents inner arc of the Andaman-Java subduction system. J. only 28 species, represents 223 species, Gulf Vol. Geoth. Res., 168: 93-113. of Mannar and NE Sri Lanka represents 244 species etc. 3. Pal, T., B. Ghosh, A. Bhattacharya and S.K. Bhaduri, [30] which are far below in accordance with species 2010. Felsic tuff from Rutland Island -A pyroclastic content of Rutland Island. Andaman and Nicobar Islands flow deposit in Miocene-sediments of Andaman-Java were included were included under two major ecoregions subduction complex. J. Earth Syst. Sci., 119: 19-25. were Andaman represents 242 species and Nicobar 305 4. Rao, D.V., 2010. Field Guide to Coral and Coral species [30], but the present study reveals that Rutland Associates of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 1-283. Island itself represents a total of 331 species which is (Published by the Director, Zoological Survey of greater than the previous record. A recent evaluation of India). global species database is required to resynthesize 5. Venkataraman, K., Ch. Satyanarayan, J.R.B. Alfred concept of ecoregions for the better understanding of and J. Wolstenholme, 2003. Handbook on Hard marine biodiversity. The consecutive status development Corals of India. 1-266. (Published by the Director, of scleractinian corals from this island through the ZSI, Kolkata). measures of species identification describes the 6. Done, T.J., Kenchinton, R.A. and Zell, L.D., 1982. importance as well as the biogenic habitat of Rutland Rapid, large area, reef resource surveys using a Island. Though the western part of the this island falls manta board. Proceedings of the Fourth International under Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, but if we Coral Reef Symposium, Manila, 2: 597-600. take separate regulatory measures for making proper plan 7. Kenchinton, R.A., 1984. Large area surveys of coral on conservation of the scleractinian lives of Rutland reefs. UNESCO Reports in Marine Science, 21: 92-103.

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8. Loya, Y., 1978. Plotless and transect methods. In: 21. Tamal Mondal, C. Raghunathan and Venkataraman, Monographs on Oceanic Methodology. Coral Reefs: K., Checklist of scleractinian corals of India with their Research Methods. D.R. Stoddart and R.E. Johannes IUCN status: a special reference to Andaman and (eds.) UNESCO Press, 5: 197-218. Nicobar Islands. Journal of Threatened Taxa. 9. English, S., C. Wilkinson and V. Baker, 1997. Survey 22. Tamal Mondal, Raghunathan C. and Ramakrishna, manual for tropical marine resources. 2nd Edition. 2010. New record of nine Scleractinian Corals from Australian Institute of Marine Science. pp: 390. Rutland Island andaman. Int. J. Biol. Sci., 1: 155-170. 10. Veron, J.E.N. and M. Pichon, 1976. of 23. Tamal Mondal, Raghunathan C. and Ramakrishna, Eastern . Part I. Australian Institute of 2011a. New Record of Five Scleractinian Corals from Marine Science. pp: 86. Rutland Island, South Andaman Archipelago. Asian 11. Veron, J.E.N. and M. Pichon, 1979. Scleractinia of J. Exp. Biol. Sci., 2(1): 114-118. Eastern Australia. Part III. Australian Institute of 24. Tamal Mondal, Raghunathan C. and Ramakrishna, Marine Science. pp: 421. 2011b. Notes on three new records of 12. Veron, J.E.N. and M. Pichon, 1982. Scleractinia of scleractinian corals from Andaman Islands. Journal of Eastern Australia. Part IV. Australian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Science, 2(5): 122-126. Marine Science. pp: 159. 25. Tamal Mondal, C. Raghunathan and 13. Veron, J.E.N., M. Pichon and M. Wijsman-Best, 1977. K. Venkataraman, 2011c. Five Scleractinian Corals Scleractinia of Eastern Australia. Part II. Australian as a New Record from Andaman Islands- A New Institute of Marine Science. pp: 233. Addition to Indian Marine Fauna. World Journal of 14. Veron, J.E.N. and C.C. Wallace, 1984. Scleractinia of Fish and Marine Sciences, 3(5): 450-458. Eastern Australia. Part V. Australian Institute of 26. Tamal Mondal, Raghunathan C. and Ramakrishna, Marine Science. pp: 485. 2011d. Addition of thirteen Scleractinians as New 15. Veron, J.E.N., 2000. Corals of the World. Australian Record to Indian Water from Rutland Island Institute of Marine Science. 1-3 volumes. andamans. Asian J. Exp. Biol. Sci., 2(3): 383-390. 16. Wallace, C.C., 1999. Staghorn Corals of the world. 27. Tamal Mondal, C. Raghunathan and CSIRO Publications, Melbourne. pp: 421. K. Venkataraman, 2012c. New Distribution Report 17. Chen, C.A., 1999. Analysis of Scleractinian of Ten Scleractinian Corals to Indian Water from Distribution in Indicating a Pattern Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Research J. Science Congruent with Sea Surface Temperatures and and Tech., 4(4): 152-157. Currents: Examples from Acropora and Faviidae 28. Tamal Mondal, C. Raghunathan and Corals. Zoological Studies, 38(2): 119-129. K. Venkataraman, 2012d. New Record of Five 18. Tamal Mondal and Raghunathan, C., New records of Scleractinian Corals to Indian Water from Andaman four scleractinian corals to Indian waters from and Nicobar Islands. IJABR, 2(2): 699-702. Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Middle East Journal 29. Tamal Mondal, C. Raghunathan and of Scientific Research. K. Venkataraman, 2014. First Report of one 19. Tamal Mondal, C. Raghunathan and Caryophylliid and two Dendrophylliid corals in K. Venkataraman, 2012a. An account of Faviid Indian water from Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Corals of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Research J. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Science, 43(4): 538-541. Science and Tech., 4(2): 62-66. 30. Veron, J.E.N., L.M. Devantier, E. Turak, A.L. Green, 20. Tamal Mondal, C. Raghunathan and S. Kininmonth, M. Stafford-Smith and N. Peterson, K. Venkataraman, 2012b. New Record of five 2009. Delineating the Coral Triangle. Galaxea-Journal Scleractinian Corals to Indian Water from Andaman of Coral Reef Studies, 11: 91-100. and Nicobar Islands, Research J. Science and Tech., 4(6): 278-284.

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