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Morphological traits and spatial distribution of azooxanthellate corals of Rhizangiidae in the Laccadive Sea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 January 2025

Divya Viswambharan Open the ORCID record for Divya Viswambharan [Opens in a new window]  and
Sreenath K. R.
Divya Viswambharan*
Affiliation:
Marine Biodiversity and Environment Management Division, ICAR-CMFRI, Mangalore Regional Centre, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
Sreenath K. R.
Affiliation:
Marine Biodiversity and Environment Management Division, ICAR-CMFRI, Ernakulam North, Kerala, India
*
Corresponding author: Divya Viswambharan; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Azooxanthellate corals of Rhizangiidae, with their distinctive morphological and ecological features, are widely distributed across global oceans but remain under-studied due to identification challenges. Comprehensive underwater surveys across diverse marine habitats such as rocky reefs and submerged shipwrecks were undertaken, and findings highlighted the exclusive presence of Culicia stellata in natural rocks, off the coast of Kaup for the first time in Indian EEZ. The study also records the presence of Cladangia exusta, nearly six decades after the first record from off Cochin, Laccadive Sea. This research presents a detailed study of the taxonomic description, distribution, and ecological preferences of Cladangia exusta and Culicia stellata in the Laccadive Sea. This study underscores the importance of accurate species identification for effective conservation strategies and enriching biodiversity records.

Keywords

CladangiaCuliciarocky reefsship wreck
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 104 , 2024 , e124
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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