BRYOZOA CHEILOSTOMATA FROM HOLOCENE, WEST-COAST OF MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

Present communication records 13 species of malacostegan and pseudomalacostegan Bryozoa occurring in the Holocene rocks of the West Coast of Maharashtra, India. Out of 13 species, only Bifustra ahshiensis nov. sp. is described here as new to science and 12 species known from elsewhere are reported for the first time. These species are : Membranipora amoyensis ROBERTSON, Biflustra sauartii (AUDOUIN), Biflustra commensale (KIRKPATRICK & METZELAAR), Biflustra arborescens (CANU and BASSLER), Biflustra tenuis (DESOR), Electra bengalensis (STOLICZKA), Electra tenella (HINCKS), Electra biscuta OSBURN, Electra bellula (HINCKS), Conopeum seurati (CANU), Cupuladria sp. and Antropora leucocypha (MARCUS). The bryozoan fauna reported here is dominantly tropical to subtropical, warm water, indicating euhaline to euryhaline salinities. However, a fossil oyster bed at Koparkhairna shows luxuriant growth of Electra bengalensis (STOLICZKA), Conopeum seurati (CANU) and Membranipora anoyensis ROBERTSON, which tolerate salinities from euhaline to meiohaline. As regards provincial relations, Membranipora amoyensis ROBERTSON, Electra bengalensis (STOLICZKA), and Electra biscuta OSBURN have Indo-Pacific affinities, Biflustra arborescens (CANU and BASSLER), Biflustra commensale (KIRKPATRICK & METZELAAR) and Electra bellula (HINCKS) are Atlantic elements now recorded from the Holocene of the West Coast, while rest of the species are cosmopolitan.