Marine Biology

Mangrove Plants

The approximately 50 mangrove species that are found worldwide belong to 20 genera in 16 families, although two families, Avicenniaceae and Rhizophoraceae, dominate in number of species and abundance. The most common genera include Rhizophora (red mangrove), Avicennia (balck mangrove or grey mangrove), Aegiceros, Laguncularia, Lumnitzera, Bruguiera, Ceriops, Sonneratia, Xylocarpus, Heritiera etc.,

Microalgae

Mangrove water ways are rich in phytoplankton species such as Navicula, Thalassiothrix, Pleurosigma, Ceratium, Peridinium, etc

Animals

Invertebrates

Zooplankton: Foraminiferans, copepods, rotifers, cladocerans etc.

Annelida: Polychaete (Arenicola sp.)

Crustaceans

Marine Prawns: Penaeus spp. (P. monodon), Metapenaeus spp., Acetus indicus, etc. Mangrove Snapping Prawn: Alpheus spp.; Mud shrimp: Upogebia sp.

Mud crabs: Scylla spp. (S. serrata); Soldier  crabs: Dotilla sp. etc. ; Sesarmd  crabs:Chiromantheseumolpe (blue face band); Fiddler crabs: Uca spp.; Hermit crabs: Clibanarius sp; Mangrove crab: Aratus sp.

Mud lobster: Thalassina anomala

Barnacles: Balanus sp, Lepas sp. etc.,

Isopoda: Sphaeroma sp ( wood borer).

Insects : Pteroptyx sp., Phylloenistis sp. , Monolepta sp and Stephaniella falcaria

Molluscs

Gastropods (Nerita, Littorina, Littoraria, Cerithidea , Ellobium ); bivalves ( oysters, clams, cockles)

Vertebrates

Fishes: Sea bass, grouper (commercially important); mudskippers, mangrove archer fish

Amphibians : Tree frogs

Reptiles

Turtles : Marine turtles like Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill Turtle (Eritmochelys imbricata),

Snakes : Water snakes, mangrove pit-viper, mangrove cat snake

Crocodile : Crocodile (Crocodilus porosus),

Birds

Brahminy kite(Haliasturindicus), kingfishers, woodpeckers, herons, egrets (Egretta garzetta)

Mammals

Long-tailed monkey (Macaca fascicularis), fruit bats (Macroglossus minimus,

Eonycterisspelaea) , otters, river dolphins (Platanista gangeticus), etc.