A. Biju Kumar

Chondracanthid copepods parasitic on flatfishes of Kerala, India

Eight species of chondracanthid copepods (Poecilostomatoida) were recovered from nine species of flatfishes collected in Kerala, India. They are: Acanthochondria zebriae sp. nov. from Zebrias synaturoides; Bactrochondria papilla gen. et sp. nov. from Cynoglossus dubius; B. hoi (Pillai, 1985) from C. lida; Heterochondria pillai Ho, 1970 from C. lida, Pseudorhombus arsius, P. elevatus, P. javanicus and P. triocellatus; H. petila sp. nov. from P. arsius, P. javanicus and P. triocellatus; H. similis (Yu and Wu, 1932) from C. azureus; and both Protochondracanthus alatus (Heller, 1868) and P. trilobatus (Pillai, 1964) from Psettodes erumi.

Elthusa Samariscii (Shiino, 1951) (Isopoda, Cymothoidae) Parasitizing Samaris Cristatus Gray, 1831, Off the Kerala Coast, India

The cymothoid isopod Elthusa samariscii (Shiino, 1951) is redescribed from the crested flounder, Samaris cristatus Gray, 1831, off the Kerala coast, India. The narrowed pleonite 1 distinguishes E. samariscii from most other species of Elthusa. Additional distinguishing characters are the rounded anterior margin of the head, rounded pleotelson, short pereopodal dactylus (subequal in length to propodus), posterior pereopods without carina on basis and the uropod rami subequal in length, with bluntly rounded apices, not reaching the posterior margin of the pleotelson. Previously recorded from Japan, this is the first report of this parasite from Indian waters.

The status of Eurostus dussumierii and Hypsirhina chinensis (Reptilia, Squamata, Serpentes): with comments on the origin of salt tolerance in homalopsid snakes

The Kerala mud snake, Enhydris dussumierii Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, has long been known only from syntypes collected in the nineteenth century, but more recent specimens have provided the opportunity for molecular work. Using Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of 2200 base pairs of cytb, 16S, and c-mos, we recovered the Kerala mud snake as the sister species to the Chinese mud snake, Enhydris chinensis (Chinese–Vietnamese endemic). The DNA results establish the position of dussumierii and chinensis as separate from the Enhydris clade, and together they form the sister group to most of the other fanged homalopsids ((Bitia+Cantoria) + (Erpeton+Gerarda+Fordonia) + (Myron+Pseudoferania) + (Enhydris punctata) + (Homalopsis+Enhydris bocourti) + (Cerberus)). Here we resurrect Ferania Gray for Enhydris sieboldii Gray, establish a new genus for the E. chinensis clade (bennettii+chinensis), and apply the generic replacement name Dieurostus Berg to E. dussumierii Duméril, Bibron & Duméril. A biogeographic scenario is proposed based on the ecology, distribution and salt tolerance of the species composing a hypothesized (not supported with molecular evidence) Asian coastal lineage that is distributed from Pakistans Indus River delta to temperate coastal China.

On two species of crabs (Decapoda, Brachyura): Cycloes marisrubri Galil & Clark, 1996 (Calappidae) and Dorippoides nudipes Manning & Holthuis, 1986 (Dorippidae) from India

In the last few decades there has been increased interest in the brachyuran fauna of India, with many new records, and even new species being described regularly (Kumar et al., 2013; Ng & Kumar, 2015a, b, 2016; Barathkumar et al., 2016; Ng et al., 2017). In this note, we discuss the taxonomy of two crab species from India: Cycloes marisrubri Galil & Clark, 1996 (Calappidae) and Dorippoides nudipes Manning & Holthuis, 1986 (Dorippidae). The measurements provided (in mm), are of the maximum carapace width and length, respectively. The terminology used follows that in Ng et al. (2008). Specimens examined are deposited in the zoological museum of the Department of Aquatic Biology, University of Kerala (DABFUK), India.

Climate Change and Biodiversity

Climate change is a vital environmental issue affecting nature and distribution of biodiversity. As the economy of developing countries depends primarily upon climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, fisheries and forestry, a holistic analysis of climate change and its implications on biodiversity is warranted in order to achieve sustainable development. The impacts of climate change on critical ecosystems and livelihood activities and on insert biological resources, especially those that are vulnerable due to other prevailing anthropogenic interventions, are discussed in the chapter. The strategies to reduce climate change impacts, including adaptation and mitigation measures, which integrate ecosystem approach into broader cross-sectoral policies as a compliment to structural and technological measures, would ultimately help achieving the targets set for biodiversity conservation. The ecosystem approach of the Convention on Biological Diversity provides a flexible management framework to address climate change mitigation and adaptation activities in a broad perspective and can help to balance ecological, economic and social considerations in projects, programmes and policies related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. The research options on the appropriate mitigation and adaptation strategies so as to manage the rich biodiversity and to specifically address the impacts of climate change on species and ecosystems coupled with the need to integrate biodiversity into developmental plans and policies are discussed.

Karkata, a new genus of gecarcinucid freshwater crab with two new species, and four new species of Pilarta Bahir and Yeo, 2007 and Cylindrotelphusa Alcock, 1909 (Decapoda: Brachyura) from Kerala, India

ABSTRACT A new genus of freshwater crab, Karkata gen. nov., with two species, K. ghanarakta sp. nov. (type species) and K. kusumbha sp. nov., and two new species each of Pilarta Bahir and Yeo, 2007 (P. aroma sp. nov. and P. punctatissima sp. nov.) and Cylindrotelphusa Alcock, 1909 (C. breviphallus sp. nov. and C. longiphallus sp. nov.), are described from Kerala, India. Additionally, C. granulata (Pillai, 1951) comb. et stat. nov. is recognised as a distinct species. Karkata gen. nov. is distinguished from other Indian gecarcinucid genera by a suite of carapace and gonopod characters, including a moderately arched, smooth carapace, the presence of a prominent suture between male thoracic sternites 2, 3 and 3, 4, the absence of a flagellum on the third maxilliped exopod, a very short terminal segment of the male first gonopod (G1), and a short distal segment of the male second gonopod (G2). Karkata ghanarakta sp. nov. is differentiated from K. kusumbha sp. nov. by the shape of the G1 subterminal segment and its live colouration. Pilarta punctatissima sp. nov. is distinct among the congeners mainly by its densely punctate carapace, densely setose anterolateral and posterolateral margins of the carapace, stouter G1 terminal segment, and relatively long G2 distal segment whereas P. aroma sp. nov. can be separated from P. anuka Bahir and Yeo, 2007 by its relatively smooth carapace, deep H-shaped groove, relatively long G1 terminal segment, and almost straight outer margins of the G1 terminal and subterminal segments. Cylindrotelphusa breviphallus sp. nov. is differentiated from C. longiphallus sp. nov. and C. steniops (Alcock, 1909) by its stout G1, with a stout, short terminal segment. Cylindrotelphusa longiphallus sp. nov. is distinguished from the congeners by its shallow, narrow cervical grooves and relatively slender ambulatory legs. An identification key to the species of Karkata, Pilarta and Cylindrotelphusa is provided. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:AB9B01DA-B23F-4AC2-9349-75ADDBBBF707