Abstract:
Keratose sponges (Keratosa Grant, 1861) of India have not been studied much in detail. The present investigation is part of exploratory sponge taxonomy studies conducted at several localities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands during 2015-2018. Three keratose sponges distributed among three different families are reported herein for the first time from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Dysidea granulosa Bergquist, 1965 (Dysideidae Gray, 1867); Dictyodendrilla cavernosa (Lendenfeld, 1888) (Dictyodendrillidae Bergquist, 1980), Phyllospongia papyracea (Esper, 1806) (Thorectidae Bergquist, 1978). Among these, D. cavernosa is a new record to India. Taxonomic descriptions of all the three species are provided and their distribution within the Andaman and Nicobar Islands vis-a-vis Indo-Pacific is discussed.
