Occurrence of sea spider Endeis mollis Carpenter (Arthropoda: Pycnogonida) on the test panels submerged in Gulf of Mannar, southeast coast of India

Abstract

Sea spiders (Pycnogonids) are exclusively marine arthropods with worldwide distribution. Pycnogonida remains one of the poorly investigated groups encountered in fouling communities. In the present study, distribution pycnogonid species Endeis mollis associated with the fouling community developed on test panels submerged at Kudankulam coast, Gulf of Mannar was studied for a period of two years. Throughout the period of investigation, Endeis mollis was observed on the test panels. A maximum of 55 individuals per square dm was observed during pre-monsoon season and a minimum of 9 individuals per square dm during monsoon season. Results of this study on seasonal distribution are of considerable interest because so little has been documented on the ecology of Pycnogonids in India.

Keywords

• arthropods
• biofouling
• fouling community
• Pycnogonids
• Kudankulam
• Endeis mollis
• biogeography