First report of Nereis (Neanthes) virens (Sars) an epitoky polychaete worm from Middle Strait, Baratang, Andaman Island, India

  • Muruganantham M Department of Ocean Studies and Marine Pondicherry University, Brookshabad Campus, Port Blair – 744 112, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
  • Mohan PM Department of Ocean Studies and Marine Pondicherry University, Brookshabad Campus, Port Blair – 744 112, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
  • Karunakumari R Department of Ocean Studies and Marine Pondicherry University, Brookshabad Campus, Port Blair – 744 112, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
  • Vibha V. Ubare Department of Ocean Studies and Marine Pondicherry University, Brookshabad Campus, Port Blair – 744 112, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
Keywords: Nereis (Nthesean) virens (Sars), epitoky, polychaete, Baratang, Andaman Sea, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Abstract

A sudden and mass outburst of the epitoky polychaete worm Nereis (Neanthes) virens (Sars)/ Alitta virens was observed of the surface waters of Middle Strait, Baratang, South Andaman Island during July 2014. This polychaeta worm was studied for its morphology and structural characteristics. We have taken nine consecutive seasonal samplings from July 2011 to January 2015, this was the first appearance of these worms in such a huge mass. These epitoky worms were observed in the month of July 2014 during monsoonal season in Andaman Nicobar Islands. Even though detailed studies were carried out on this worm in the world oceans, the present observation was the first report on the tropical island ecosystem of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

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Published
2015-06-30
How to Cite
M, M., PM, M., R, K., & Ubare, V. V. (2015). First report of Nereis (Neanthes) virens (Sars) an epitoky polychaete worm from Middle Strait, Baratang, Andaman Island, India. Journal of Research in Biology, 5(5), 1769-1774. Retrieved from https://ojs.jresearchbiology.com/ojs1/index.php/jrb/article/view/388