Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Scleractinian corals of the erstwhile Travancore Coast (Southwest of India).

Volume 37 Issue 1&2

C. S. Gopinatha Pillai and S. Jasmine.

Abstract

Patchy growths of hard corals are found to occur along the coast of erstwhile Travancore at the southwest coast of India. The formation extends from Enayam to Quilon. The most common genus is Pocillopora and is represented by five species. Massive genera like Porites, Favia, Favites, Goniastrea and Platygyra as well as Leptastrea are non-consipicuous in this area. The ahermatypes are little studied, but from the information gathered during the present study by dredging off Quilon indicated that they are well represented. A total of 29 species belonging to 17 genera of scleractinians is reported in this work. Out of these, 13 species divided among six genera are hermatypes and the rest, 16 species of 11 genera is ahermatypes. The coral fauna in structure and composition is more related to that of the Gulf of Mannar than Lakshadweep.

Date : 30-12-1995