[Invertebrate • 2019] Polyclad Fauna of Agatti Island, Lakshadweep, India: New Records and Description of Two New Species • Pseudoceros agattiensis & P. stellans

The present paper deals with the first study of polyclad fauna from Agatti Island, Lakshadweep. Through this study, Pseudobiceorsapricus, Pseudobiceroshymanae and Pseudocerosbolool are recorded for the first time from Lakshadweep waters while Pseudocerosbicolor is recorded for the first time from Indian waters. Description of two new species, Pseudoceros agattiensis sp. nov. and Pseuodocerosstellans sp. nov. is also provided with good quality photographs of external and internal details. Pseudocerosagattiensis sp. nov. is characterized by a brown to black background colour, with minute white spots, marginal band thick and black with minute white spots present at very edge of the margin, three dorsal longitudinal white bands, out of which, two are laterally branched. Pseudocerosstellans sp. nov. displays a brown background colour with a black marginal band and completely covered with lighter microdots and a unique pattern of white dorsal blotches. This study adds to the knowledge of Indian polyclads, which are still an understudied group from Indian waters.

Keywords: Platyhelminthes, Pseudoceros, Marine flatworm, Taxonomy, novel species

Pseudoceros agattiensis sp. nov. Dixit

Etymology: The specific name refers to AgattiIsland in Lakshadweep, where type specimen was collected.

Pseudoceros stellans sp. nov. Dixit

Etymology: From the Latin stellans (adjective) — starry or starstudded; for stars like appearance on dorsum.

Sharad Bayyana, Hashim Manjebrayakath, N. Saravanane and M. Sudhakar. 2019. Polyclad Fauna of Agatti Island, Lakshadweep, India: New Records and Description of Two New Species. Zootaxa. 4657(2); 246–260. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4657.2.2