Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Science Vol.45(8), August 2016, pp. 1024-1028

Illustrative checklist of opisthobranchs from selected beaches of Mumbai

Sagar Gavas**, Bhupendra Shirke, Prathamesh Kulkarni, and Sagar Rajpurkar D.G.Ruparel College, Senapati Bapat Marg, Mahim, Mumbai- 400 016, [Email ID: [email protected]]

Received 19 March 2014; revised 03 April 2014

Opisthobranchs are marine slugs belonging to phylum . Till date, Mumbai is least studied for opisthobranch biodiversity with very few official reports on opisthobranch fauna. The present study documents a list of opisthobranchs from Mumbai. The opisthobranchs were collected from selected beaches along the Mumbai coast and identified using standard guidelines. Eight of opisthobranchs belonging to three families were identified. All of these are new records to Mumbai with five species being new records to India. This study is a preliminary data for further investigations, monitoring and conservation of opisthobranch fauna.

[Key words: Checklist, Opisthobranch, Mumbai, mollusks]

Introduction Materials and Methods The work done on opisthobranchs in India is The survey was carried out during low tide on sparse and patchy .On the western coast of rocky shores of Mumbai from October 2012- India, most of the work on Opisthobranch is February 2014. The digital images were taken restricted to the Gulf of Kutch and on site during survey to record their native Lakshadweep. It includes work by Hornell1, 2; colouration and pattern. Live specimens Patil 3; Gideon et al.4; Narayanan5- 8; Menon et brought to the laboratory were subjected to al.9; Rudman 10; Balani and Patel11; Valdés et detailed observation to reveal their al.12; Fontana et al.13; Jagtap et al.14; Apte 15; morphological and biometric characters. The Apte et al.16; Apte and Salahuddin17.The specimen were preserved, labeled and Opisthobranch fauna study of Maharashtra is deposited in the museum. Identification was limited to a few publications by Hornell 1, 2; carried out based on the morphological Winckworth18, 19; Kasinathan et al.20; Balani characters and available literatures 22-26 and Patel11 and Apte and Bhve21. The present (http://www.seaslugforum.net, study was designed and carried out to provide http://www.nudipixel.net). Identification of an insight to the biodiversity and current status some species is validated by eminent of the opisthobranchs along selected beaches Malacologist Mr. Garry Cobb. of Mumbai. Results and discussions Study area During this study of eighteen months a total of In spite of the anthropogenic disturbances, eight species were found. They belong to three Mumbai shows fair diversity of intertidal families Discordorididae, Facelinidiae, organisms. The intertidal areas of rocky Haminoeidae. All of these are new record to beaches have a good representation of Mumbai and six of the eight species new sponges, some hydroid and very few algae. record to Maharashtra whereas five are new These serve as good habitat for records to India (Table-1) opisthobranchs. For the current study, intertidal areas of rocky shore along Mumbai Family coast were selected. Mumbai is located on the 1. Carminodoris cf.grandiflora (Pease, 1860) west cost of India (between Lat. 18054’ to (FIg.2A) 19009’ N and Long. 72047’ to 72056’ E). Size: 30- 40 mm Sampling was carried out on rocky patches of Description: Mumbai. The body is oval, flat and the notum is covered with large, rounded tubercles that decrease in size towards the mantle edge. Tubercles are GAVAS et al.; ILLUSTRATIVE CHECKLIST OF OPISTHOBRANCHS FROM SELECTED BEACHES OF MUMBAI 1025

somewhat brownish with white basal band. 4. sp. (Fig. IID) The species has a close resemblance with Carminodoris grandiflora. The Size: 14 mm are closely-set and stout, with a knob-shaped The body is translucent white and the long oral lamellar region (10–15 lamellae) that tentacles and rhinophores have varying terminates in a point22. amounts of opaque white speckling. The specimen illustrated has orange spots on the 2. Ategema asseosa (Kelaart 1859) (Fig.IIB) . The ceratal tip is white, and the Size: 5 mm ceratal digestive gland ranges in colour from A. osseosa has bristly mantle. The rough red to dark brown. It feeds on hydroids.26, 27 surface bears papillae which are white in color. The papillae contain projecting spicules. This 5. Cratena sp. (Fig.IIE) species has the same colour and texture as the Size: 17 mm sponge on which it lives and feeds and its It has quite long rhinophores and a dark spot in colouration simulates the surroundings. There the ceratal digestive gland just below the tip. It are also a series of darker markings (patches was found in association with without spicules) which match the oscula or sp.in rock pool. It has tentacular foot corners. waterholes in the sponge. 23, 24 Bright orange spot can be seen on head. It resembles . 3. Atagema sp. (Fig. IIC) Size: 15 mm 6. militaris (Alder and Hancock, It is small discodorid usually seen in shallow 1864) (Fig IIF) pools and under rocks. Mantle is broad, white Size: 17 mm. and tuberculated and a median ridge. It has It is characterized by the bright orange median oval, stout foot. A definite mid-dorsal crest is line on the head. The oral tentacles, present extending from rhinophore to branchial rhinophores, tentacular foot corners and pouch. Body and mantle is a translucent white are all tipped with yellow and there is a broad with scattered brown papillae. The gills are orange band on the rhinophores. Cerata are protected by pockets. The raised rhinophore transparent and digestive gland is bright violet packets are characteristic of Atagema sp25. and orange28 Family:

Table I. Opisthobranch fauna of Mumbai

Sr No. Family Species New record to New record to New record Mumbai Maharashatra to India

1 Discodorididae Carminodoris cf.grandiflora (Pease, 1860) √

2 Discodorididae Ategema asseosa (Kelaart 1859) √ √ √

3 Discodorididae Atagema sp. √ √ √

4 Facelinidae Cratena sp. √ √ √

5 Facelinidae Cratena sp. √ √

6 Facelinidae (Alder & Hancock, 1864) √

7 Haminoeidae Haminoea sp. √ √ √

8 Haminoeidae Haminoea sp. √ √ √

1026 INDIAN J. MAR. SCI., VOL. 45, NO.8, AUGUST 2016

Carminodoris cf.grandiflora (Pease, 1860)

Ategema asseosa (Kelaart 1859)

13% Atagema sp. 32%

24% Cratena sp.

7% 5% 13% Cratena sp. 3%

3% Phidiana militaris (Alder & Hancock, 1864)

Haminoea sp .

Haminoea sp.

Fig-I Percentage representation of Opisthobranch species

Family- Haminoeidae Conclusion 7. Haminoea sp. (Fig.IIG) Present study throws light on the biodiversity of Size: 6 mm the opisthobranch fauna along selected Mumbai Description: beaches. TheThe concern is that we may lose many The is small and possesses smooth, thin, spespeciescies without being aware of their existence in fragile, white and translucent shell, hence called Mumbai beaches. Present work which deals bubble snail. Small eyespots located dorsally. with eight species of opisthobranchs, belonging No external gills are observed. Animal shows to three families which adds information on the dark brownish spots on dorsal side above shell. marine intertidal fauna of the Indian waters and The shell has cyliindricalndrical shape widen towards gives an exclusiveclusive account of the extent to the base. which various different groups of opisthobranch are distributed along the Mumbai coast. Regular 8. Haminoea sp. (Fig.IIH) mmonitoringonitoring and assessment of these are planned Size: 5 mm to be studied. TThehe animal is very small and possesses orange smooth, thin, fragile and translucent shell. Small Acknowledgements eyespots located dorsally. Animal is slightly AuthorsAuthors are grateful to Mr. Gary Cobb who orange in colour. Head and foot are spotted with helped us in identification. orangeorange on white background. Foot is short. Congregation is seen in habitat close to algae.

GAVAS et al.; ILLUSTRATIVE CHECKLIST OF OPISTHOBRANCHS FROM SELECTED BEACHES OF MUMBAI 1027

A. Carminodoris cf.grandiflora B. Ategema asseosa C. Atagema sp.

D. Cratena sp. E. Cratena sp. F. Phidiana militaris

G. Haminoea sp. H. Haminoea sp.

Fig II. Opisthobranch fauna of Mumbai beaches

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