Cephalopoda of the west coast of India collected during the cruises of the research vessel Varuna, with a catalogue of the species known from the Indian ocean

A comprehensive treatise on the Cephalopoda of the Indian Seas is wanting. The only noteworthy Works with special reference to this area are those by Goodrich (1896: Trans. Linn. Soc. London, 7,1-24), Massy (1916: Hec. Indian Mas., 12: 185-248), and Adam (1939, Ibid., 41; 61-110), based on collections in the Indian Museum. Little attention has been paid to the study of the biology and fishery of Indian cephalopods. The only detailed account we have is the one on Sepiofeuthis arctipinnis Gould reported on by Rao (1954: Indian J. Fish., 1: 37-66). Other sources of information are stray records or accounts in expedition reports. In the light of these it is evident that there is need for more information on the Cephalopoda of the Indian Seas