Diversity of Pelagic Sea Slugs (Pteropoda and Littorinimorpha) in The Eastern Arabian Ocean
Date
2026Author
Nanda, S. S.
Chatragadda, R.
Rokkarukala, S.
Kanakam, A.
Kumar, A.A.
Dalvi, N.
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Pteropods and pelagic Littorinimorpha gastropods are critical components of marine ecosystems, playing key roles in trophic dynamics and biogeochemical cycles. This study documents the diversity and distribution of these taxa from the Eastern Arabian Sea along the west coast of India. Specimens were collected during the SSK-177 research cruise (November 3�20, 2024) aboard RV Sindhu Sankalp, which included CTD casts for the acquisition of local bathymetric information, plankton net sampling, and sediment analysis across a range of marine habitats, from shallow continental shelf waters to deep-sea environments. A total of 13 species were identified from multiple families, with some species being widely distributed across all study sites, while others were rare, occurring at only one or two locations. Notably, this study marks the first record of Cuvierina urceolaris from Indian waters. Species diversity was highest at Angria Bank and Lakshadweep, whereas the Raigad site exhibited the lowest diversity. These findings provide valuable insights into the pelagic gastropod communities of the Eastern Arabian Sea, contributing to future assessments of biodiversity, conservation, ecosystem dynamics, and potential impacts of climate change and ocean acidification on these taxa.
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