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The jellyfish, Pelagia noctilucais considered as one of the notorious bloom forming species in the world’s oceans due to its wide distribution, high abundance, ecological role, and also because of its negative interaction with humans. In the present study, we report the bloom of Pelagiacf. noctilucafrom northeastern Arabian Sea in December 2018, identifying specimens with the use of molecular and morphological approaches. The identification of this species is important for monitoring future blooms in the area and for understanding the diversity of the genus in a global scale. Genetic data considered sequences of COI and 16S, and our sample clustered with data identified as Pelagia noctilucaand P. panopyra. Based on the analysis the closest species with confirmed records is P. noctilucafrom the Mediterranean Sea. However, we prefer to be conservative and keep some level of uncertainty in species identification as Pelagiacf. noctilucauntil further populational studies can embrace the whole diversity of the genus and distributions. The density of the reported bloom was 7550 ± 576 ind. m−3.

As a part of regular benthic monitoring program in the fragmented brackish-water habitats of Kochi (Cochin), Kerala, India, several specimens of Neorhynchoplax alcocki(Kemp 1917) and Neorhynchoplax demeloi(Kemp 1917) were collected. Description and illustration of male G1 and color shortly after preservation, habitat and its ecological environment are presented for the first time. Key to the Indian species of Neorhynchoplaxis provided.