Two new species of chaetognatha from the Andaman Sea, Indian Ocean

Abstract

Two new chaetognath species, Krohnitta balagopali and Sagitta meenakshiae, are described from the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean). Krohnitta balagopali is easily distinguishable from the other two known species of the genus by its unpigmented eye, fully rayed fins and smaller size. Sagitta meenakshiae has distinct characters, such as a small size, lower tail percentage, lower meristic counts and a difference in eye pigmentation as compared with three related species. The two new species appear to be endemic to this coral ecosystem.

Keywords:

• Andaman Sea
• Chaetognatha
• Indian Ocean
• new species

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Acknowledgements

The work was supported by the Department of Ocean Development, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India through the award of a project entitled “Study on biodiversity of phytoplankton and zooplankton with special emphasis on island ecosystems (Andaman Sea)” to the Regional Centre, National Institute of Oceanography, Kochi. The authors are grateful to the Department of Ocean Development for the opportunity and the Director, National Institute of Oceanography and Scientist-in-Charge, Regional Centre of the National Institute of Oceanography, Kochi, for facilities.

Notes

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark