Diversity of ascidians from the Gulf of Mannar

Abstract

The ascidian fauna of the Gulf of Mannar was studied by examination of more than 1,500 samples collected during the period 2000-2003 along the coastal districts of Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Ramanathapuram and Rameswaram by fixing 263 stations. The survey revealed the occurrence of 360 species of ascidians belonging to 34 genera and 10 families. Of these, 12 genera and 303 species are new reports to India of which 170 species are new to science. The total number of ascidians reported from Gulf of Mannar could be increased from 69 to 372.