Indian Lecanidae (Rotifera: Eurotatoria: Monogononta) and its distribution. Issue 1 (March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sharma, Bhushan Kumar; Sharma, Sumita; Sharma, B. K.; Dumont, H. J.; Wallace, R. L.
• Is Part Of: International review of hydrobiology. Volume 99:Issue 1/2(2014)
• Page Start: 38
• Page End: 47
• Publication Date: 2014-03
• Subjects: Limnology -- Periodicals; Marine biology -- Periodicals; Aquatic biology -- Periodicals; Freshwater biology -- Periodicals; 578.76
• DOI: 10.1002/iroh.201301702
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1434-2944

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="iroh201301702-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p>Taxonomic status of the Lecanidae of India is evaluated based on our collections and the published reports, and an annotated check‐list of 83 species is presented. These comprise nearly 41.0% of the global diversity of the taxon and ∼21.0% of the known species of Indian Rotifera. Biogeographically interesting lecanids include two Australian and Asian; eight Oriental endemic; four Indian endemic; eight Holarctic; two arctic‐temperate and five paleotropical elements, while several species exhibit regional distributional importance. Three species are new to India and the rare <italic>L. bulla diabolica</italic> is new to northeast India. The diversity pattern of the Indian Lecanidae is predominantly tropical, and has a moderate endemicity. The lecanids are studied in greater detail in certain states of northeast India and from the states of West Bengal (East India) and Tamil Nadu in South India; unfortunately, their diversity from other parts of this country, including the biodiversity important Himalayan region and Western Ghats, remains poorly known. Besides, analysis of cryptic diversity in the <italic>L. bulla</italic>, <italic>L hamata</italic>, <italic>L. leontina</italic>, <italic>L. ludwigii</italic>, <italic>L. lunaris</italic>, and <italic>L. quadridentata</italic> species group complexes deserves attention for further research on rotifer biogeography. Our conservative estimate of occurrence of nearly 100 species of Lecanidae in India merits biodiversity value.</p> </sec> </abstract>