First report of the Pleurobranchomorpha, Berthellina citrina (Rüppell & Leuckart, 1828) (Mollusca, Gastropoda) from South West Coast of India

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Research Paper 01/11/2014
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First report of the Pleurobranchomorpha, Berthellina citrina (Rüppell & Leuckart, 1828) (Mollusca, Gastropoda) from South West Coast of India

M.S. Sheeja, K. Padmakumar
J. Biodiv. & Environ. Sci. 5(5), 229-233, November 2014.
Copyright Statement: Copyright 2014; The Author(s).
License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Abstract

The Pleurobranchomorpha or side-gilled opisthobranch clade is distributed worldwide. Berthellina citrina (Rüppell and Leuckart, 1828) is a very conspicuous opisthobranch belonging to the family Pleurobranchidae. They are recorded for the first time from Vizhinjam, Kovalam, and Kollam, of Kerala, and Muttom of Tamil Nadu, south west coast of India. They are mostly found hidden under rocks and boulders and feed on encrusting sponges.

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