On an epizoic gastropod, Saptadanta nasika Prashad & Rao, on the shells of Pterocera Lamarck

Abstract

A heavy infestation by a hitherto Uttle known epizoic gastropod on a shell of Pterocera lambis (Linne) from Minicoy in the Laccadive group of Islands was brought to my notice by Dr. S. Jones, Chief Research Officer of.the Central Marine Fisheries Research Station, Mandapam Camp. It was later identified by me as Saptadanta nasika Prashad and Rao under the family Lepitellidae. Several other shells of P. lambis (Linne) and P.chiragra (Linne) infested in a similar manner by the same species and reported to have been received from Mangalore were obtained subsequently from a chank godown of a shell dealer in Kilakarai, Ramnad district.