New Distribution Record of Anomiid Species (Bivalvia: Anomiidae) from Vizhinjam, Kerala, Southwest Coast of India

The southwest coast of India is rich in marine diversity. A new report of species from anomiidae family from the west coast of India is included in this paper. Three anomids namely Anomia simplex, dOrbigny, 1853, Anomia cytaeum Gray, 1850 and Anomia ephippium Linnaeus, 1758. are newly reported from the Vizhinjam Bay. In which two species, Anomia simplex, (dOrbigny, 1853) and Anomia cytaeum (Gray, 1850) are reported for the first time from India. Anomia ephippium Linnaeus was reported by Dey and Ramakrishna (2007) and Subba Rao (2000) from Andhra Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Anomid bivalves are highly brittle group of oysters. These are attached onto the hard substratum including the surface of molluscan shells. The single valve of the species was collected from the Vizhinjam bay and the full specimens were found to be attached onto the gastropod shells. Due to its brittle nature and the firmness in their attachment to the substratum, it is very difficult to detach them completely and fully from the substratum. These three species are deposited in the Marine Biodiversity Museum, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kochi. Bivalvia, Indian anomiidae, , Anomia simplex, Anomia cytaeum, Anomia ephippium