First record of Colubraria nitidula (Sowerby I, 1833) (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from Lakshadweep Islands, India
Deepak Apte
Bombay Natural History Society
spiderconch@gmail.com 
Abstract
Genus Colubraria is represented by five species from India. Colubraria nitidula was reported from the Andaman Islands. This find extends its range to the Lakshadweep islands on the west coast of India. 
Key words
Colubraria, Buccinoidea, Mollusca, Gastropoda, Lakshadweep, AICOPTAX
Introduction
Family Colubrariidae comprises seven genuses namely Bartschia Rehder, 1943; Colubraria Schumacher, 1817; Cumia Bivona-Bernardi, 1838; Iredalula Finlay, 1926; Kanamarua Kuroda, 1951; Metula H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 and Minibraria Sarasúa, 1984. Of these only Colubraria is represented in the Indian molluscan fauna (Table 1). 
Material and methods
Under the All India Co-ordinated Project on Taxonomy (AICOPTAX) – Mollusca programme, molluscan faunal studies are currently being carried out across the Lakshadweep archipelago. During the survey of inter-tidal reef at Kavaratti (10°32'51.17"N & 72°37'29.08"E) on January 29, 2018, I came across 100+ specimens of C. nitidula. Eight specimens were collected and morphological measurements such as the shell length and shell width were recorded to the nearest millimetre. Specimens were deposited in the collections of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS GASTRO-1080). 
Results and discussion

Systematic accounts
Phylum: Mollusca Linnaeus, 1758
Class: Gastropoda Cuvier, 1795
Superfamily: Buccinoidea Rafinesque, 1815
Family: Colubrariidae Dall, 1904 
Genus: Colubraria Schumacher, 1817
Species: nitidula 
Synonym: Triton nitidulus G.B. Sowerby I, 1833 (original combination)
Distribution: Widespread Indo-West Pacific species.
Size: Length 27–36 mm; width 8–13mm
Sr, No	Shell length in mm	Shell width in mm	
1	30	10	
2	28	12	
3	34	13	
4	36	13	
5	27	9	
6	33	10	
7	27	8	
8	28	8	

Description
Shell elongately turreted, thick and solid with 10 to 12 flattened varices. Spire slightly twisted. Body whorl and spire granulated, arranged in raised lines. Columella smooth, with distinct enamel that is widely spread. Siphonal canal is short and recurved. Outer lip with 9–12 denticles. Inner lip with smooth margin. Colour of the shell is light brown with darker brown spot (Fig. 1, A-D). 
Conclusion
The shell identification was based purely on shell structure since all the specimens found were dead and occupied by hermit crabs. However, the characters of these dead shells are distinct enough to segregate them from similar-looking Colubraria, especially Colubraria ceylonensis (G.B. Sowerby I, 1833). 
References
APTE, D.A. (2014): Sea Shells of India: An Illustrated Guide to Common Gastropods. BNHS and Oxford University Press. 225 pp.
SUBBA RAO, N.V. & A. DEY (2000): Catalogue of Marine Molluscs of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Rec. Zool. Surv. India, Occ. Paper No. 187, i–x, 1–323 pp.
SUBBA RAO, N.V. (2003): Indian Seashells (Part-I): Polyplacopora and Gastropoda. Rec. Zool. Surv. India, Occ. Paper. 19 (i–x): 1–416.

Table 1 Family Colubrariidae found in India and its status
Sr. no	Name	New name (WoRMS database)	
1	Colubraria muricata (Lightfoot, 1786)	Valid	
2	Colubraria nitidulum (Sowerby, 1833)	Valid. Colubraria nitidula (Sowerby I, 1833)	
3	Colubraria obscura (Reeve, 1844)	Valid	
4	Colubraria sowerbyi (Reeve, 1844)	Valid	
5	Colubraria tortuosa Reeve, 1844)	Valid