Introduction:

Nudibranch are shell-less marine opisthobranch belonging to class gastropod and

phylum Mollusca, which are noted for their often extraordinary colours and striking forms.
Nudibranch means naked gills-mostly on the dorsal part of some species or along the side
covered by a protective flap as these species tend to bury into sand or mud. Nudibranchia is
the largest group in opisthobranchia with more than 3500 described species. The gills can be
used for identification. It has been seen that some species wave their gills as they move or
feed. Nudibranchs are found in marine environments from Antarctica to the tropics.
Nudibranchs dwell at virtually all depths of sea, but reach their greatest size and variation in
warm, shallow waters. Most spend their adult life on the bottom.
The first report on nudibranch from A&N Islands was published by Eliot (1910),
which deals with a collection of nudibranchs made by Annandale. The five species of
nudibranchs, of which four were described by him, were collected from Andamans; including
a new species Thordisa annulata. The other species from Andamans are Linguella
quadrilateralis (Bergh) Doris pustulata (Abraham) and Chromodoris albo-pustulata (Pease).
Opisthobranchiate taxonomy and ecology in these Islands recently gained an attention after
99 years of the publication by Eliot with the new record of five species of nudibranchs
(Raghunathan et al., 2009) and 17 new distributional records of nudibranch by Sreeraj et al.,
(2009). Later on studies conducted by Apte (2009), Apte et al., (2010), Apte and Bhave
(2011), Raghunathan.et al., (2010), Ramakrishna et al.,(2010), Sreeraj et al., (2010) and Apte
and Salahuddin (2011) are worth to India from Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Global distribution of opisthobranch (third large group of snails) is a specialized
group of phylum Mollusca. Marine habitat of opisthobranch is illustrated by two by two pair
of tantacles and single gills located behind the heart. Morphologically diverse group of
opisthobranch represent over 6000 species in all over the world and engage the great variety
of ecological niches. As a defense mechanism it secretes strong acids or toxins and follows
the camouflage characters. Rich opisthobranches fauna of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has
remained largely unstudied because of its geographic remoteness. Out of 164 reported species
belonging to 6 orders and 35 families in Andaman Islands and 21 species from Nicobar
Islands. The present study was an attempt made to study the diversity of nudibranch in
selected area of Andaman Islands.
Methodology:
Study Area
The diversity and distribution of nudibranch was studied through underwater surveys
conducted in the littoral and sub littoral regions at three sites. The GPS coordinates of the
area studied are mentioned along with a short description of area surveyed. Study was
conducted in Sound Island, Mayabunder, in North Andaman, Pongibalu region and
Burmanella of South Andaman. Sound Island is situated to the northeast of Mayabunder and
Aves Island (Lat: 1256.167N and Long: 09258.113E). Burmanella (Lat: 1130.998'N and
Long: 9244.100'E) is covered with a huge intertidal exposure of 150m during low tide and
characterized by boulders and rocky shore. The intertidal ecosystem of Burmanella provides
suitable habitat for nudibranchs in South Andaman. Pongibalu (Lat: 11 30.956'N and Long:
92 39.206'E) is located at the eastern periphery of Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park.
The area constitutes fringing coral reef which extends more than 400m from shoreline which
is bordered by mangroves.
Sample Collection
An intensive and extensive survey of opisthobranchs was carried out in Islands of North
Andaman and South Andaman. Survey and species observation in sub-tidal area up to depth
of 35 metres was conducted by employing scuba diving, while hand picking method in

intertidal area. Animals were observed, photographed in-situ using Sony cybershot DSC T
900 and Canon G-15 with underwater housing and samples were collected for identification.
Live specimens brought to the laboratory were subjected to detail observation to reveal their
morphological characters and measurements. Most of the specimens were measured and
photographed in their natural habitat and placed in a flat bottom plastic jar before brought to
the laboratory for examination. Animals were fixed in a solution of 5% formaldehyde and
seawater. Before placement in the fixative solution the animals were narcotized with a
solution consisting of Mg Cl2. The formaldehyde fixed animals were transferred to 95%
ethanol for long term preservation. Identification was carried out based on morphological
characters and available literatures Jensen, 1990a; Gosliner, 1995; Gosliner et al., 2008);
Rudman (1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1995), and Brunckhorst (1993) and two web-based portals,
the Australian Museums Seaslug Forum (http://www.seaslugforum.net/) and Nudi Pixel
(http://www.nudipixel.net).
Results and Discussion:
A total of nineteen species of nudibranchs belonging to 14 genera were observed
during the study period. Morphological examinations of the species were made on the basis
of the morphometric measurement, external features, and colouration. The detailed
morphometric cum pictorial analysis of phenotypic characters of 19 species of nudibranchs
under 14 genera was made with the insight of comparison and differentiation among other
species of same or other genus will be helpful for proper identification. Conservation of
animals is possible only after knowing the name, features and status of that animal by means
of taxonomical identification. Hence an attempt was made during this study.