Additions to the sea snail fauna (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia) of Lakshadweep Islands, India

Abstract

Among the 373 species of opisthobranchs reported from India, 92 are from Lakshadweep. This paper documents 11 species of opisthobranch fauna from Lakshadweep Islands, classified under the families Haminoeidae, Colpodaspididae, Volvatellidae, Dendrodorididae, Chromodorididae, Goniodorididae, Embletoniidae, and Tergipedidae, of which five are new records to India. Goniobranchus rufomaculatus and Volvatella ventricosa are reported for the first time from the western Indian Ocean.

Keywords

• coral islands
• indian ocean
• lakshadweep
• new records
• opisthobranch
• sea slug
• union territory.