The Vermetidae of the Gulf of Kachchh, western coast of India (Mollusca, Gastropoda)

By

Joshi, Devanshi
Mankodi, Pradeep

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2016

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

555

Pages

1-10

Subjects

coral reefs , Gulf of Kachchh , Paga Reef , Vermetidae

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.555.5948

 

Abstract

Coral reefs are often termed underwater wonderlands due to the presence of an incredible biodiversity including numerous invertebrates and vertebrates. Among the dense population of benthic and bottom-dwelling inhabitants of the reef, many significant species remain hidden or neglected by researchers. One such example is the vermetids, a unique group of marine gastropods. The present study attempts for the first time to assess the density and identify preferred reef substrates in the Gulf of Kachchh, state of Gujarat, on the western coast of India. A total of three species of the family Vermetidae were recorded during the study and their substrate preferences identified.