Occurrence of wood-boring pholads in Kochi harbour waters (south-west coast of India)

IRG/WP 92-4175

L N Santhakumaran, M V Rao

The paper reports the occurrence of four species of wood-boring pholads (Pholadidae: Martesiinae), namely Martesia (Martesia) striata (Linnaeus), Martesia (Martesia) fragilis Verrill and Bush. Martesia (Particoma) nairi Turner and Santhakumaran and Lignopholas fluminalis (Blanford), in the Kochi back-waters, south-west coast of India. Of these Martesia nairi and Lignopholas fluminalis are now recorded for the first time from the area, the former having been collected from test panels of Spondias magnifera, Gyrocarpus asiaticus, Anogeissus latifolia, Terminalia alata and Hevea brasiliensis and the latter from panels of Pinus roxburghii. For Martesia nairi, which is hitherto known only from the mangrove habitat (where it causes extensive damage to vegetation) and rarely from underwater wooden structures, this is the first report in India from test panels exposed outside the mangrove areas. A brief comparison of these pholads and notes on their occurrence and distribution along Indian coast are also included.


Keywords: DISTRIBUTION; INDIA; KOICHI HARBOUR; MARINE BORERS; MARTESIA; MARINE TESTS; OCCURRENCE; PHOLADS; SALINITY; SEA-WATER

Conference: 92-05-10/15 Harrogate, England, UK


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