Biodiversity of sponges (Phylum: Porifera) off Tuticorin, India

Abstract

The present study deals with 18 new records of sponges found at Kayalpatnam area and a checklist of sponges reported off Tuticorin in the Gulf of Mannar. The new records are Aiolochoria crassa, Axinella damicornis, Clathria (Clathria) prolifera, Clathrina sororcula, Clathrina sinusarabica, Clathrina coriacea, Cliona delitrix, Colospongia auris, Crella incrustans, Crambe crambe, Hyattella pertusa, Plakortis simplex, Petrosia (Petrosia) ficiformis, Phorbas plumosus, Spheciospongia vesparium, Spirastrella cunctatrix, Xestospongia muta and Sycon ciliatum. Details about the species diversity of common sponges, invasive sponges,massive sponges and boring sponges of the area are discussed and presented.