Abstract
AbstractA specimen of solitary ascidian Molgula sp., collected from seaweeds growing at Thotlakonda beach, Visakhapatnam is reported for the first time from Visakhapatnam coast of Indian waters.
Highlights
Ascidians referred to as ‘sea squirts’ constitute a major component of biofouling community in coastal waters
A single specimen of the ascidian was handpicked while collecting the seaweed Caulerpa racemosa from a rocky substratum on the intertidal area of Thotlakonda, Visakhapatnam (17°49’N, 83°25’E)
The widest point was at about one-third of the length from the anterior end and from this point the two edges tapered rapidly to the narrow posterior end
Summary
Ascidians referred to as ‘sea squirts’ constitute a major component of biofouling community in coastal waters. Knowledge of diversity of ascidians in the waters around India is very less. Perusal of literature by Renganathan (1990), Venkat et al (1995), Meenakshi and Senthamarai (2004, 2006) and Meenakshi (2005) indicate that there are about 300 species of ascidians belonging to 10 families and 38 genera reported so far from Indian waters comprising both colonial and solitary forms.
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