Macrobenthic Fauna of Snake Island Area of Lagos Lagoon , Nigeria

Abstract

The macrobenthic fauna of Snake Island area in Lagos, Nigeria was studied. A total of 8 sampling stations were used for the study. Twenty-two macrobenthic species belonging to 4 major animal phyla were recorded. The Annelida (polycheata) constituted 64% in abundance followed by the Molluscan bivalve (34%), Arthropoda (crustaceans) 5% and Chordata (pisces) 1%. The spatial distribution and occurrence of species/station showed that 3 species (Tagelus angulatus, Nereis granulata and Glacera tridactyla) occurred in 6 stations out of 8 indicating the most commonly distributed within the study area. This is followed by Notomastus latericus; Capitella capitella and Opheila sp. and 2 bivalve sp. (Aloides trigona and Tellina trilatera) all occurring in 4 stations out of 8. The least occurring species were Callinectes amnicola, fish larva and Euclymene sp. occurring in only one station. Station 4 recorded the highest number in species diversity and richness with the value of 2.60 and 3.69, respectively. The lowest numbers for both values were recorded in station 3.