Occurrence of Zoanthid genus Isaurus from Saurashtra coast, Gujarat, India

Pandya Khushali M, Sarma Kangk

Abstract

The zoanthid genus Isaurus (Anthozoa: Hexacorallia) is a well-known species from the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Based on morphological and molecular data, this species has been examined recently. We identified the Genus Isaurus during a regular field visit. Identification was carried out using morphological data. On comparing the obtained morphological data with the few previously described genera Isaurus as well as with Zoanthus and Palythoa, Isaurus is found to be closely related to the genus Zoanthus. The polyp length, mesentery numbers, external coloration in the collected Isaurus specimens exhibited a lot of variation. Two Isaurus species are documented based on their morphological characters.

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