Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Siphonophores and their commensals in the Indian Ocean.

Volume 15 Issue 1

Ruby Daniel

Abstract

During the course of a detailed study of the siphonophores of the Indian Ocean, the juveniles and later stages of two species of Phronimid and one species of Hyperid Amphipoda were found within the mesoglea of the nectophores, bracts and nectosac of fourteen species of siphonophores at 37 stations. In this paper the species associated, their exact location within the siphonophores, size attained within the mesoglea and in the nectosac and their latitudinal records are presented.

The association of Nomeus with the siphonophore Physalia is also recorded. The association between the siphonophores and other animals described earlier from the Indian and other Oceans by Totton (1960) and Chang-Tai Shih (1969) are also briefly discussed.

Date : 31-08-1973