ABSTRACT
Aglaopheniids were sampled from 48 survey locations in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands during September 2016 to January 2019. Seven species were encountered during the study period, of which three are first reports to India recorded from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, viz., Aglaophenia cupressina Lamouroux, 1816, Lytocarpia brevirostris (Busk, 1852) and L. delicatula (Busk, 1852). The descriptions of 4 species, viz., Gymnangium hians (Busk, 1852), Macrorhynchia philippina Kirchenpeuner, 1872, M. phoenicea (Busk, 1852) and Monoserius pennarius (Linnaeus, 1758), are provided after a taxonomic gap of 108 years from the Islands. Hydroids were observed to be growing on a variety of substrates; rocks, boulders, dead corals, polychaete tubes, ship hull and sand. Some associated fauna was catalogued as well such as the bivalve, Pterelectroma physoides (Lamarck, 1819) associated with G. hians (Busk, 1852), L. delicatula (Busk, 1852), M. phoenicea (Busk, 1852) and M. philippina Kirchenpauer, 1872. The hydroid specific nudibranch Lomanotus vermiformis Eliot, 1908 was observed on M. philippina Kirchenpauer, 1872 and an unidentified sea anemone was observed on the hydrocaulus of M. pennarius. The bathymetric distribution of the aglaopheniids were observed to be between 3-20m, with L. brevirostris and M. pennarius occurring in deeper waters, i.e., 10-20m.
Subject(s)
Hydrozoa , Animals , India , Islands , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
The class Hydrozoa consists of mostly marine and few freshwater organisms classified into 7 orders amongst which the order Anthoathecata consists of 48 families with approximately 1,140 valid species (Cartwright Collins 2007). Stylasteridae is one among the families that comprises the order Anthoathecata, and is characterized by a calcareous exoskeleton which is often brightly pigmented. The members of the family are commonly called lace corals. They are usually small in size and commonly found in crevices and caves in coral reef areas.
