First record and colour banding pattern of Cellana karachiensis (Winckworth, 1930) (Mollusca: Patellogastropoda: Nacellidae) from Gujarat coast, India

Abstract

Present communication reports the first record of a limpet species Cellana karachiensis (Winckworth, 1930) from Western Indian coast which was previously identified as Cellana radiata (Born, 1778). The species was initially presumed as Cellana radiata as reported earlier by many authors. The results of the DNA barcoding pointed out that it is 99 % identical with Cellana karachiensis, and not C. radiata. C. karachiensis is till date reported only from Gulf of Oman and thus, this study reports the first record of Cellana karachiensis (Mollusca: Nacellidae) from Veraval coast, Gujarat State, India. Three different color banding patterns were observed in this animal. There was a little variation found in DNA barcoding as Type X match up to 99.69 %, Type Y and Type Z match up to 99.54 % with previously submitted DNA sequences of C. Karachiensis. We initially proposing these as three distinct subtypes (X, Y and Z) of the genus Cellana and species karachiensis, till further evidences arises as being same or different species.