Taxonomic assessment and diversity of sea slugs (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) along the Karnataka Coast, India: Sea slugs of Karnataka

Divya Viswambharan; Geetha Sasikumar; Prathibha Rohit

doi:10.21077/ijf.2025.72.4.142045-18

Authors

Divya Viswambharan ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute
Geetha Sasikumar ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute
Prathibha Rohit ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute

https://doi.org/10.21077/ijf.2025.72.4.142045-18

Keywords:

rocky reef, coral reef, nudibranchs, eastern Arabian Sea

Abstract

Sea slugs in Karnataka's marine ecosystems have been understudied, resulting in limited documentation. To address this gap, extensive field surveys were conducted across the rocky reefs and off-shore patchy reefs of Karnataka, extending up to a depth of 38 m. During the surveys nine sea slug species were documented, representing four genera (Goniobranchus, Phyllidia, Coryphellina, and Elysia), belonging to four families (Chromodorididae, Phyllidiidae, Flabellinidae, and Plakobranchidae). Six of the nine species recorded are new additions to the sea slug fauna of the Karnataka Coast. By combining data from the current surveys with historical records, an annotated checklist of 36 species of sea slugs found in Karnataka was compiled.

Keywords: Annotated checklist, Rocky reefs, Marine ecosystems, Patchy reefs

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Author Biographies

Geetha Sasikumar, ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute

Dr. Geetha Sasikumar

Principal Scientist

Shellfish Fisheries Division

Mangalore RC of ICAR-CMFRI
Prathibha Rohit, ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute

Dr. Prathibha Rohit

Principal Scientist and Head

Karwar Regional Station

Karnataka

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