Species Composition, Distribution and Abundance of Hydromedusae in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the East Coast of India

Abstract

Based on zooplankton collections made by Fisheries Ocean Research Vessel Sagar Sampada Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, India, during the period 1986-1990, 356 samples from 18 cruises from Sri Lanka to Calcutta coast were analysed. The hydromedusae were encountered in 273 samples and more than 62 species were found. Liriope tetraphylla dominated in the percentage of occurrence and population density. Aglaura hemistoma, Solmundella bitentaculata, Rhopalonema velatum, Cytaeis tetrastyla, Bougainvillia fulva and Phialidium hemisphaericum were the commonly occurring species. The maximum species diversity was noticed away from the nearshore stations, while maximum population density was from nearshore stations.