New records of Aplousobranch ascidians to Indian waters from Andaman Islands

Abstract

Aplousobranchia represents the largest order under the class Ascidiacea. Two reef associated aplousobranch ascidians, Rhopalaea macrothorax Tokioka, 1953 under the family Diazonidae and Clavelina robusta Kott, 1990 under the family Clavelinidae, found from the Andaman group of islands are reported as new records to the Indian waters. The present paper describes the taxonomic characters and distribution of these two newly recorded species.

Keywords

• andaman & nicobar islands
• aplousobranchia
• ascidians
• new record.