The Identification Manual for Important Marine Biodiversity of Marine National Park, Gulf of Kachchh

IDENTIFICATION MANUAL FOR

IMPORTANT MARINE BIODIVERSITY OF

MARINE NATIONAL PARKGULF OF KACHCHH, JAMNAGAR

Publisher : Marine National Park, Jamnagar Gujarat Forest Department

Edition : July, 2014

Concept & : R. D. Kamboj, IFSGuidance Chief Conservator of Forests, Marine National Park

Compiled By : M. M. Bhalodi Dy. Conservator of Forest, Marine National Park

D. Adhavan, Ph.D. Marine Biologist (ICZM project), Marine National Park

Production : Pugmark Qmulus Consortium, www.pqcindia.com

Photos : R. D. Kamboj (IFS), Arpit Deomurari, Ashvin Trivedi, Chandresh S. Dave, Mukesh Mali, Shekar Dattatri, Bharat Jethwa, Vinod Gajjar, D. Adhavan and J. S. Yogesh Kumar

Citation : Kamboj, R. D., Bhalodi, M. M. and Adhavan, D., 2014. Identification manual for Important Marine Biodiversity of Marine National Park, Gulf of Kachchh, Jamnagar, Gujarat Forest Department, India, 77 pp.

Gujarat has not only been bestowed upon with the longest coastline in the country, it is also blessed with a remarkable diversity of marine ecosystem and habitat. Marine National Park and Sanctuary in the Gulf of Kachchh are prime examples of pristine marine biodiversity that bears signature of its past nature. This Marine Protected Area is having variety of marine mammals, fishes, sea turtles, sponges, coral reefs and their associates like mangroves, sea grasses and other marine life. All the marine life in this area have significant role in interacting with one another in creating a healthy environment.

Global warming and human interference is also affecting this unique marine ecosystem, which needs to be protected and conserved. I appreciate the Forest Department for preparing and publishing “Identification Manual for Important Marine Biodiversity of Marine National Park, Gulf of Kachchh.” This publication, having images and valuable information, will play an important role in the conservation of this unique but fragile ecosystem. I am sure it will prove to be a useful guide for the various enforcement agencies like Department of Forests, Fisheries, Police, Judiciary, Customs, Ports, Coast Guard and NGOs for detection, prosecution and mitigation of wild life crimes.

I congratulate Shree R. D. Kamboj, Chief Conservator of Forests and his team for bringing out such an informative manual on the ecosystem of Marine Protected Area in the Gulf of Kachchh.

Anandiben Patel Chief Minister, Gujarat State

MESSAGE

Marine National Park in the Gulf of Kachchh is a heaven for marine biodiversity with varied spectrum of organisms and habitats. It takes the pride of having being declared as the first Marine National Park and Sanctuary in the country. The Gulf of Kachchh stretches on an approximate length of around 170 km and maximum width of about 75 km. Many organisms in the Marine Protected Area, including endemic ones, are in deep stress due to various factors like pollution, global warming and human interference. Among them, some organisms are yet to be studied in detail.

Conservation and sustainable management of marine biodiversity in Marine Protected Area is need of the hour. Therefore, correct identification of the species along with their ecological requirements and current legal status is a key requirement for protection and long term conservation of this valuable coastal and marine ecosystem.

I am happy that “The Identification Manual for Important Marine Biodiversity of Marine National Park, Gulf of Kachchh” is the first publication of its kind which will serve the purpose of effective protection of marine biodiversity as well as capacity building of the staff. The photographs and other details about marine organisms presented in this manual would definitely form a firm foundation for generating mass awareness about marine biodiversity and need for its conservation.

In this context, I congratulate Shri R. D. Kamboj, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests and his team for bringing out this valuable source of information on marine biodiversity of Gulf of Kachchh and putting it in the public domain.

Ganpatsinh Vasava Minister Forest and Environment, Tribal Development, Legislative and Parliamentary affairs, Government of Gujarat

MESSAGE

The Marine National Park in the Gulf of Kachchh in our state enjoys the pride of being declared

as the first Marine Protected Area in the country and classified under IUCN category I. The Gulf

of Kachchh is under pronounced tidal influence and it is categorized under a macro-tidal regime.

This Marine Protected Area is versatile with drastic tidal fluctuation and rich marine biodiversity

that includes mangrove, sea grasses, fishes, coral reefs and their associates. The Marine Protected

Area in the Gulf of Kachchh is significant as the ecosystem and diversity of species occurring in

this seascape provide a wide range of important resources and services. Unless we have complete

information about the biodiversity of marine habitat, its protection and conservation remains a

distant dream.

Considering the significance of the marine biodiversity conservation, I appreciate the Forest

Department who has brought out “The Identification Manual for Important Marine

Biodiversity of Marine National Park, Gulf of Kachchh” as an important compilation depicting

illustrations of marine biotic communities in the Marine Protected Area for the understanding

and benefit of the frontline staff and officials of the Forest Department as well as other

enforcement departments, researchers, students and general public.

I appreciate and congratulate Shri. R. D. Kamboj, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests and his team for

their excellent attempt to develop this valuable source of information on marine biodiversity of

the Marine Protected Area in the Gulf of Kachchh.

Govind Patel Minister of State Agriculture and Water Supply, Forest and Environment, Government of Gujarat

MESSAGE

The Gulf of Kachchh region along the Western coast of India in Gujarat consisting of coral reefs, sea grass beds, mangrove, estuaries, marshes, mud flats, etc. is a pristine marine area and known for rich marine biodiversity as well as accelerated economic development powered by expanding industrialization.

It is need of the hour to have an identification manual of important marine living resources of Gulf of Kachchh, Marine National Park for effective preservation and conservation of valuable marine biodiversity. The identification manual also helps enforcement officials of Forest, Police, Coast Guard and Custom Departments to know the legal status of the organisms for launching successful prosecution. This also assists researchers, budding scholars and tourists as a field guide and helps to create awareness on marine life.

I am very happy to see the first identification manual of important marine life of Gulf of Kachchh, Marine National Park and appreciate the efforts made by the staff in this context.

I congratulate Mr. R. D. Kamboj IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests and his team who have initiated to compile this scientific information in the form of a publication which is quite informative and useful.

H. K. Dash, IAS Additional Chief Secretary Forest & Environment Department Government of Gujarat

MESSAGE

Gulf of Kachchh in Gujarat State is blessed with rich marine biodiversity where some species are endemic to this locality. Unfortunately the resources are depleting and degrading both in terms of quality and quantity at a faster and unprecedented rate due to anthropogenic effect and natural calamities. The Gulf of Kachchh is accessed by multiple users which some time leads to destruction and degradation. Conflicting interests, lack of understanding of problems and its links with future security and availability of resources, and failure to appreciate and acknowledge the value and need of conserving this biological richness, is constantly making it harder and harsher to find sensible, sustainable and mutually acceptable ways and means to curb and reverse the situation.

I appreciate for compiling of information in this Identification Manual on flora and fauna of Marine National Park, as this would help to create knowledge to protect and conserve the biodiversity of the Marine National Park. This manual may play vital role in interpretation, management, preservation and conservation of resources in the MNP.

The present attempt by the Marine National Park, Jamnagar is an earnest effort to compile all identification characters and will have rationale with ongoing initiatives towards biodiversity conservation in the Gulf of Kachchh area. This pictorial identification manual will be useful as a database for Forests officials, scientists, researchers and other stakeholders equally and will open up vistas for future areas of priority research and monitoring for secured health of the unique fragile resource base of the Gulf of Kachchh.

I wish to place on record my appreciation for Mr. R. D. Kamboj, IFS and his team for undertaking the task and doing full justice with it.

Rajeeva, IFS Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of the Forest Force Government of Gujarat

MESSAGE

The state of Gujarat has the longest coastline among other maritime States of India which is bestowed with diverse marine fauna and flora. Coral reefs of Gulf of Kachchh are known for their resilience and unique way of surviving. The Gulf enjoys the place of pride as being the first Marine Protected Area in the country. Many research institutions have carried out studies on marine organisms and marine ecosystems related issues in the area.

The Gulf of Kachchh has attracted many marine biologists, scientists and researchers to carry out various research projects, studies and surveys to understand the aspect of marine wealth, glory of its status and future challenges. Understanding biodiversity conservation, legal status, sustainable development and protection is need of the hour.

“The Identification Manual for Important Marine Biodiversity of Marine National Park, Gulf of Kachchh” is an innovative approach which not only helps the researchers but also the enforcement personnel of the Government departments as well as others who are concerned with conservation. I believe the protection of wildlife in its habitat or outside cannot be supported without the knowledge on Identification, legal status and distribution. This effort will lead to availability of information and helps the personnel from the Departments of Forest, Police, Customs, Coast Guard and NGOs involved in conservation for launching successful prosecution in case of offences related to the marine biodiversity.

I congratulate Shri R. D. Kamboj, IFS and his team for bringing out this Manual. I am sure that this document will be useful to the Government and Non Government Organizations, scientific community and research bodies in formulating their plans for conservation of Marine biodiversity in the Gulf of Kachchh.

Dr. C. N. Pandey, IFS Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Wildlife & Chief Wildlife Warden, Gujarat State

MESSAGE

The Gulf of Kachchh is proud of having the first Marine Protected Area declared by Govt. of Gujarat in 1980. This region with 42 Islands having rich biodiversity of corals and their associated fauna and flora, is one of unique marine ecosystem offering the most challenging environment for protection and conservation of coastal and marine biodiversity. Each of these species has a significant, specific and synergistic relationship with its habitat and the ecosystem. Therefore, the humans cannot afford to lose any of these species so as not to endanger their own survival. In this context, correct identification of the species along with their ecological requirements and current legal status is a prime requirement for long term conservation of this valuable coastal and marine biodiversity. From my experience of many years concern with wildlife protection and conservation, I have realized that protection of wildlife in its habitat or outside cannot be strengthened unless the identification and knowledge of their ecology is improved among the enforcement personnel from the Departments of Forests, Police, Customs, Coast Guard and NGOs involved in conservation for launching successful and effective prosecution.

This identification manual will largely meet this requirement as it contains comprehensive information about the important species, their ecology and legal status. This manual includes the identification features of about 120 marine organisms and their associates including mangroves. Some interesting facts about the species have been provided in the boxes wherever available. I am sure this compilation will be, inter alia, useful to the officials of enforcement Departments and Judiciary immensely. Furthermore, this manual can be an excellent tool for capacity building of the staffs related with protection of the marine biodiversity in Marine Protected Areas.

The compilation of this manual includes the assistance of Forest staff of all the Ranges during the field visits and their help is duly acknowledged. Special thanks are due to Dr. C. S. Dave, Lecturer, Govt. College, Zalod (Dist. Dahod, Gujarat) and Dr. Dhiraj Chavada, Marine Biologist, MNP for their contribution in preparing this manual. Dr. J. S. Yogesh Kumar, Young Scientist, of Z.S.I deserves special mention for contributing photographs of certain new species of corals from Marine National Park included in this manual.

R. D. Kamboj, IFS Chief Conservator of Forests Marine National Park Government of Gujarat

FOREWORD

Contents

Phylum: Porifera

SPONGES 1Honey Comb Sponge Cruella cyathophora 2Velvet Red Sponge Ophlitaspongia sp. 2Large Tube or Pink Tube Sponge Siphonochalina sp. 2

Phylum: Cnidaria

CORALS 3Acanthastrea hillae 5Astreopora listeri 5Coscinaraea columna 5

Sand paper Coral Coscinaraea monile 6Tubular Moon Coral Cyphastrea serailia 6Moon Coral Favia favus 6Moon Coral Favia speciosa 7Pineapple Coral Favites bestae 7Pineapple Coral Favites chinensis 7Pineapple Coral Favites complanata 8Pineapple Coral Favites flexuosa 8Pineapple Coral Favites halicora 8Pineapple Coral Favites pentagona 9Pineapple Star Coral Goniastrea pectinata 9Flower Pot Coral Goniopora minor 9Flower Pot Coral Goniopora nigra 10Flower Pot Coral Goniopora planulata 10Mound Coral Hydnophora exesa 10Star Coral Leptastrea purpurea 11Velvet Coral Montipora explanata 11Velvet Coral Montipora foliosa 11Velvet Coral Montipora monasteriata 12Elephant Ear Coral Mycedium elephantotus 12Solitary Coral Paracyathus stokesi 12Maze Coral Platygyra pini 13

Maze Coral Platygyra sinensis 13Pleasant Moon Coral Plesiastrea versipora 13Community Coral Polycyathus verrilli 14Branching Pore Coral Porites compressa 14

Porites harrisoni 14

Boulder Coral Porites lichen 15

Boulder Coral Porites lutea 15

White Margined Starlet Coral Pseudosiderastrea tayami 15

Starlet Coral Siderastrea savignyana 16

Brain Coral Symphyllia radians 16

Vase Coral Turbinaria mesenterina 16

Bowl Coral Turbinaria peltata 17

Yellow scroll Coral Turbinaria reniformis 17

Soft Coral 18

Snowflake Coral Carijoa riisei 19

Cauliflower Coral Dendronephthya sp. 19

Sea Fan Gorgonia sp. 19

Hand Coral Lobophytum pauciflorum 20

Sea Pen Pennatula sp. 20

Sea Anemone 21Tube-dwelling Anemone Cerianthus sp. 22

Leathery Anemone Heteractis sp. 22

Giant Carpet Anemone Stichodactyla gigantea 22

Carpet Anemone Stichodactyla haddoni 23

Zoanthus 24Sea Mat Palythoa sp. 25

Sea Mat Prortopalythoa sp. 25

Jelly Fish 26Moon Jelly Fish Aurelia aurita 27

Phylum: AnnelidaSabella / Feather Duster Worm Sabella 28

Bristle Worm Nereis sp. 29

Phylum: EchiuraBonellia 30Bonellia Worm Acanthobonellia pirotanensis 30

Phylum: Arthropoda

Crabs 31Queen Crab Atergatis integerrimus 31Hermit Crab Clibanarius sp. 32Ghost Crab Ocypode quadrata 32Wolf Crab Pilumnus vespertilio 32Mud Crab Scylla serrata 32Mangrove Swimming Crab Thalamita crenata 32Fiddler Crab Uca sp. 32

Barnacles 33Barnacles Balanus sp. 33

Anemone Shrimp 34Anemone shrimp or popcorn shrimp, male and female

Periclimenes brevicarpalis 34

Phylum: MolluscaShells 35

Angaria plicata 35Granular Frog Shell Bursa granularis 35Whelks Cantharus spirales 35Waved Globlet Cantharus undosus 35Heart Clam Cardium flavum 36Limpet Clypidina notata 36Caurica Cowrie Cypraea caurica 36

Periwinkle Shells Littorina sp. 36Murex Murex sp. 36Distorted Nassa Nassarius distortus 36Moon Snail Nautica picta 37False Periwinkle Nerita sp. 37Pinna Pinna bicolor 37Hoof Scutus Scutus unguis 37Wide-mouthed Shell Stomatia phymotis 37Telescope Shell Telescopium telescopium 37Dwarf Turban Turbo bruneus 38

Octopus 39Common Octopus Octopus vulgaris 40

Pearl Oyster Pinctada fucata 41

Window Pane Oyster Placuna placenta 42

Nudibranch / Sea Slug 43Aplysia dactylomela 43Bornella stellifer 43Dendrodoris nigra 43Elysia thompsoni 43Elysia tomentosa 44Glossodoris pallid 44Haminoea ovalis 44Hypselodoris capensis 44Jorunna funebris 44Sakuraeolis gujaratica 44

Phylum: EchinodermataStar Fish or Sea Star Asterina sp. 45

Sea Urchin Salmacis bicolor 46

Brittle Star 47Banded Brittle Star Ophiacantha indica 47

Feather Star Oxycomanthus bennetti 48

Sea Cucumber Holothuria sp. 49

Sand Dollar Laganum depressum 50

Phylum: ChordataPuffer Fish Tetraodon lineatus 51

Cat Fish 52Eel Cat Fish Plotosus lineatus 52

Whale Shark Rhincodon typus 53

Stingray Trygon sp. 54

Sea Horse Hippocampus sp. 55

Green Sea Turtle Chelonia mydas 56

Olive Ridley Turtle Lepidochelys olivacea 57

Sea Birds 58Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster 58Crab Plover Dromas ardeola 58Western Reef Egret Egretta gularis 59Black-neck Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus 59Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala 59Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus 59Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor 59Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis 59

Dolphin 61Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin Sousa chinensis 61

Porpoise Phocoena sp. 62

Dugong 63Sea Cow Dugong dugon 63

FLORASargassum 66

Sargassum sp. 66Botryocladia leptopoda 67

Sea Grapes Caulerpa racemosa 67Feather Weed Caulerpa sp. 67

Gracilaria corticata 67Funnel Weed Padina tetrastromatica 67Sea Lettuce Ulva Lactuca 67

Seagrasses 69Halodule uninervis 70

Halophila beccarii 70

Halophila ovalis 70

Thalassia hemprichii 70

Zostrea marina 70

Mangroves 71Aegiceras corniculatum 72

Avicennia alba 72

Avicennia marina 73

Avicennia officinalis 73

Ceriops tagal 74

Rhizophora mucronata 74

Mangrove Associates 76Pilu Salvadora persica 76Pickle weed Suaeda sp. 76Pickle weed Salicornia sp. 76

References 77

IntroductionThe Marine National Park in Gulf of Kachchh is India’s first Marine Protected Area declared in 1980. It is located along the southern coast of Gulf of Kachchh in Jamnagar, Devbhumi Dwarka and Morbi districts of Gujarat State. It is a place to observe colourful life thriving in marine kingdom. It is a nature’s own laboratory to study the integrity of living and nonliving environments. Here exist coral reefs, sea grass meadows and mangrove forests, contributing to the dynamics of the area as unison. The National Park covers about 42 islands of which 33 islands harbour “Rain forests of the Seas”, the coral reefs. The sea grass meadows sustain population of sea turtles, dugongs and many other herbivorous fishes. Mangroves forests found here are some of the best mangroves of Gujarat and also enjoy a place of pride among the mangroves of India. These coral reefs and mangrove forests play very crucial role in sustainability and protection of the coast. They provide food and other natural resources to coastal population and also protect the coastal land against erosion and salinity ingress ensuring food security in coastal region.

The marine environment of Gulf of Kachchh Marine National Park shelters fauna ranging from microscopic plankton to the gigantic whales. All these fauna are important in marine ecosystem irrespective of their size as they are integral part of a complex known as food web. Alteration of the cycle at any trophic level results into collapsing of the entire food chain. The marine fauna are highly adapted to dynamic nature of marine realm where environmental parameters keep changing. This has resulted into stratified distribution of the marine animals, ranging from spray zone to the bathyal depths. Those organism that are capable to withstand dryness for longer duration would aggregate near high tide line and the others would prefer sub tidal region.

Marine ecosystem is also enriched with flora including phytoplankton, algae, sea grasses and mangroves and their associates which are the primary producers like vegetation on terrestrial ecosystem. They transform the solar energy into organic nutrient compounds (food). The micro vegetation, phytoplankton, constitute food for many herbivore animals living in open waters, whereas, marine algae dominate the intertidal area. The areas near the high tide line are observed to bear the growth of mangroves and their associates. All this vegetation is crucial in many ways. This vegetation is not only the source of food but also provides shelter to many of the marine life.

In this manual an attempt has been made to give identification characteristics of the common marine flora and fauna of Marine National Park along with its distribution and legal status. This will benefit the managers of Marine Protected Areas in particular and students, academicians, researchers and nature lovers in general.

1

SPONGES(Phylum: Porifera)

Sponges are the simplest multicellular animals (Metazoa) and possess relatively little in the way of differentiation and coordination of tissues. They are exclusively aquatic, found in freshwater as well as marine water. Sponges, as their name suggests, are spongy and have porous body. They are found in a variety of colours, shapes and sizes.

Habitat:

Sponges virtually occur anywhere in marine environment. They are sessile and live their life attached to substratum or any hard surface. Some sponges are known to occur in muddy areas also. Sponges are known space competitors as they compete with other sessile animals for space and try to dominate other sessile animals by encrusting over them.

Food and feeding habit:

They are sessile, filter-feeding organisms which, despite a simple body plan, are remarkably efficient at obtaining food from the surrounding water. The filtered water leaves through a larger central canal. A foot ball sized sponge can filter 2 tonnes of water per day.

Do you know?• Venus Flower Basket (Euplectella sp.) is a popular Wedding Gifts in Japan.

• Sponges have the amazing special capability to regenerate or re-grow. This means that if one is cut up, it can grow back the missing part.

• Sponges lack the ability to produce their own food. Plants can do this through photosynthesis and cellular respiration and that’s what makes them plants. Sponges are animals because they are consumers and cannot generate their own energy from sun.

Legal status: All the sponges are listed under Schedule – III of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in India.

2

Velvet Red Sponge This type of sponge grows not more than about ¼ inch thick. It is bright red or orange colored, in contrast to most inter-tidal sponge species.

Habitat: Grow on inter-tidal rocks. It may have well camouflaged red colored nudibranchs.

Range: Tropical and subtropical region

IUCN Status: Not yet assessed

Large Tube or Pink Tube Sponge Grows up to 80 cm. Clusters of soft tubes sometimes branched, contains sponging; rosy.

Habitat: Grows on rocks and dead corals of fore-reef slopes and found up to 3 to 25m. Harbours shrimp and crinoids.

Range: Red sea to Australia.

IUCN Status: Not yet assessedSiphonochalina sp.

Honey Comb Sponge Grows up to 30 cm. Creamy body with distinctive warty oscula.

Habitat: Grows on shaded areas and places where the current is quite swift. It has a temperature range up to 22 – 28 °C at least 20m.

Range: Red sea and Indian Ocean.

IUCN Status: Not yet assessed

Cruella cyathophora

Ophlitaspongia sp.

3

CORALS(Phylum: Cnidaria)

Coral is a generic name given to a group of animals covering both solitary and colonial in nature. Most of the corals are sessile while a few live sedentary lives. Corals include Fire corals (not found in Gulf of Kachchh), hard corals and Soft corals.

Hard CoralsHard corals are animals with protective armor made of calcium salts, hence, give hard feeling on touch. Majority of hard corals tend to build colonies of various shapes and sizes whereas, solitary members also occur. The individual animal of the colony is known as “Polyp” which looks like miniature of sea-anemone. Polyp harbours unicellular algae, i.e., Zooxanthellae inside its body wall. This kind of symbiosis turns to be an excellent example of resource sharing benefiting both the host and the guest. In the association of polyp and zooxanthellae, polyp provides space to the algae and in return, the algae share energy generated through photosynthesis by utilizing organic waste of the polyp. The hard corals contribute to coral reef formation by creating large mass of calcium carbonate. Due to the zooxanthellae and other pigments, live corals flaunt brilliant gamut of colours.

Habitat: Corals are exclusive marine animals occurring throughout the world. However, most of them are confined to warm tropical waters only. Hard substratum is a prime requirement for corals to grow. Clear waters with temperature ranging from 18°C to 30°C and salts not more than 35 parts per thousand provide optimum environment for corals to thrive

Food and Feeding habits: Corals get 70% of their energy requirement from their symbiotic algae. They are active predators, hunt zooplankton using nematocysts, harpoon like structures. The prey is then covered by slim and diverted to the mouth using tentacles.

4

Do you know?• Coral typically form colonies consisting of many individuals

• Hard corals have white skeleton that is made of limestone (calcium carbonate)

• Sea fan corals grow at right angle to the current of the water

• Reef are the largest structures on the planet created by animals

• Coral polyps belong to the same group as the jelly fish family

• It is illegal to damage or sell coral

Threats With modernization, global environment is facing deteriorative changes at rapid pace.

Global warming, ocean acidification, land erosion, increased levels of pesticides and chemical

fertilizers into the seas have created serious threat to the coral reefs all over the world.

Legal statusAll the hard corals are covered in Schedule - I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 extending

them the highest legal protection in India.

5

Acanthastrea hillaeEncrusting to massive; polyps with concentric folds, colour variable, centre often pale.

Habitat: Reef zones, usually uncommon.

IUCN Status: Near Threatened (NT)

Astreopora listeriColonies are hemispherical or flattened. Corallites are immersed and sometimes crowded with small rounded openings surrounded by feathery spinules giving the colony a spiny appearance.

Habitat: A wide range of environments, especially in shallow turbid water.

IUCN Status: Least Concern (LC)

Coscinaraea columnaColonies are encrusting or massive, sometimes hillocky. Columellae are compacted pinnules set well below the septo-costae. Septo-costae are not heavily granulated.

Habitat: Shallow reef environments.


Acanthastrea hillae

Astreopora listeri

Coscinaraea columna

6

Moon CoralColonies are massive, rounded and some time flattened.

Coralite plocoid, 12-20 mm diameter, up to 5mm exerts with broad bases and are usually circular.

Habitat: Found on shallow reef environment.


Favia favus

Sand Paper CoralColonies encrusting of dome shaped, encrusting to foliaceous, massive or columnar.

Habitat: Most common on reef slopes.


Coscinaraea monile

Tubular Moon CoralColonies are massive to columnar with a smooth or hillocky surface. Corallites are rounded and equal in size. Costae do not alternate strongly. 12 primary septa are observerd.

Habitat: All reef environment


Cyphastrea serailia

7

Pineapple CoralColonies are massive and rounded. Corallites are shallow, angular to subplocoid, with thin walls. Usually yellow or greenish-brown in colour.

Habitat: A wide range of reef environments especially in Shallow reef environments.


Favites chinensis

Moon CoralColonies massive, coralite circular and closely compacted in shallow water, more widely spaced in deep water. Colonies are pale grey, green or brown in colour, usually with calices and contrasting colour.

Habitat: Rare and found on shallow reef environment.


Pineapple CoralColonies are submassive to encrusting. Corallites are thick walled and rounded, becoming subplocoid. Few Septa, uniform in height and are usually in two alternating orders. Paliform lobes and columellae are well developed. Browns and greens, usually with contrasting walls and centres.



Favia speciosa

Favites bestae

8

Pineapple CoralColonies are usually massive with an uneven surface. Living colonies are with wide range in colour. Usually brown in colour and sometimes with green oral disc. Always found in barnacle infestation.

Habitat: Not very common, found in subtidal regions.


Favites complanata

Pineapple CoralColonies are hemispherical or flat. Corallites are angular and deep. Septa are even with fine teeth. Paliform lobes are weakly developed. Brown colour with pale oral discs.



Favites flexuosa

Pineapple CoralColonies are massive, either rounded or hillocky. Corallites have very thick walls and tend to become sub-plocoid. Living colonies are usually uniform pale yellowish- or greenish-brown.



Favites halicora

9

Pineapple CoralColonies are submassive to encrusting, sometimes forming irregular columns. They commonly exceed one metre across. Corallites are thin walled and angular. Septa are few in number. Paliform lobes are well developed, commonly forming a conspicuous crown. Often brightly coloured, brown or red, commonly with green oral discs.

Habitat: Shallow reef environments.IUCN Status: Least Concern (LC)

Favites pentagona

Pineapple Star CoralColonies are submassive or encrusting. Living colonies are pale brown or pink in colour and dark brown in deep and turbid water.

Habitat: Mostly found on the shallow reef environment.


Goniastrea pectinata

Flower Pot CoralColonies are hemispherical or encrusting. The live coral is brown or green, usually with distinguished coloured oral discs and pale tips of the tentacles.

Habitat: Mostly found in Subtidal reef environments especially lagoons.


Goniopora minor

10

Flower Pot CoralThey have numerous polyps that extend outward from the base

Habitat: Found in lagoons and turbid water conditions.

IUCN Status: Not yet assessed.

Goniopora nigra

Flower Pot CoralColonies are submassive with small compacted columns or mounds. Corallites have thin walls. Septa are thin and irregular and do not form deltas except in colonies in very shallow water. Polyps are short with tentacles of uniform length. Dark grey-brown in colour and usually with white mouths.


IUCN Status: Vulnerable (V)Goniopora planulata

Mound CoralColonies are submassive, encrusting of sub-arborescent. Living colonies are brown, cream and dull in colour. Green colour colonies are also seen in Kuchchh.

Habitat: It is found in all reef environments, and prefers protected slopes.

IUCN Status: Near Threatened (NT)Hydnophora exesa

11

Star CoralColonies are flat with angular, cerioid corallites which vary in size within the same colony. Colonies on reef flats may have several corallites in shallow valleys. Septa are tightly compact, approximately similar in size, and have margins that slope uniformly towards the corallite centre. Habitat: A wide range of reef environment.

IUCN Status: Least Concern (LC).Leptastrea purpurea

Velvet CoralColonies are encrusting and with small gibbosites on the surface.

Habitat: Common on reef flats of Gulf of Kachchh.


Montipora explanata

Velvet CoralColonies are composed of thin unifacial laminae sometimes forming tiers or whorls. Corallites are arranged in rows between coenosteum ridges, which are conspicuous and usually perpendicular to colony margins. Usually cream, pink or brown with pale margins.

Habitat: Mostly protected upper reef slopes.

IUCN Status: Near Threatened (NT).Montipora foliosa

12

Velvet CoralColonies are encrusting. Living colonies are usually pale brown or pink in colour.

Habitat: Found in Subtidal region

IUCN Status: Least Concern (LC).

Elephant Ear CoralColonies are laminar or foliaceous. Uniform brown or green in colour.

Habitat: Subtidal reef environments protected from strong wave action


Montipora monasteriata

Mycedium elephantotus

Solitary CoralSolitary and tapering to a pointed base.

Habitat: Mostly found as overhangs under rocks and dead corals.


Paracyathus stokesi

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Maze CoralMassive and round occasionally flat. Corallites are mostly moncentric and do not have meandering valley.

Habitat: Shallow reef environment.


Platygyra sinensis

Pleasant Moon CoralColonies encrusting to submassive with the surface raised into sub circular mounds. Living coral usually brown, cream or purple in colour.

Habitat: Mostly occur in shaded places protected from strong wave action.


Plesiastrea versipora

Maze CoralColonies are massive to encrusting. Corallites are monocentric or form short valleys. Walls are thick, with rounded edges. Septa are thin and evenly spaced. There may be some development of columella centres and/or paliform lobes. Usually grey- or yellow-brown with green or cream valley floors.


IUCN Status: Least Concern (LC).Platygyra pini

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Community CoralSolitary, attached, forming small colonies in the form of patches up to 10-15 cm spread. Corallites formed of extra tentacular budding.

Habitat: Mostly found under the dead Acropora plates and tables or rock in reef area. It is sometimes found even on dead shells.

IUCN Status: Not yet assessed.Polycyathus verrilli

Porites harrisoniColonies are usually less than one metre across. They have a wide range of submassive, nodular, columnar and branching growth-forms on a broad encrusting base. Commonly dark brown, also pink or blue in colour.

Habitat: Shallow fringing reefs.

IUCN Status: Near Threatened (NT).

Porites harrisoni

Branching Pore CoralCorallum composed of thick solid base and with digitate form branches.

Habitat: Distributed in Gulf of Kachchh and restricted to Arabian Sea.

IUCN Status: Least Concern (LC)..

Porites compressa

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Boulder CoralColonies are Encrusting of submassive. Colonies are bright yellowish green, sometime brown in colour.

Habitat: Usually dominant species at the lagoon and reef slopes found in rock pool and reef flats of Gulf of Kachchh.


Boulder CoralColonies are massive. The surface is usually smooth. Green or cream coloured in shallow waters

Habitat: Mostly occur on back reef margin


Porites lichen

Porites lutea

White Margined Starlet Coral Colonies are encrusting to massive, dome-shaped. Pale grey with distinctive white coloured corallites.

Habitat: Mostly found in shallow water, attached to bare rocks.

IUCN Status: Near Threatened (NT).

Pseudosiderastrea tayami

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Starlet CoralColonies are encrusting or low mound. Corallites are arranged in cerioid and polygonal, 2-4 mm diameter.

Habitat: Mostly found on shallow reef environment.


Brain CoralColonies are meandroid and are massive to flat. Well spread out colonies. Living colonies may be very colourful, greenish to brown in colour.

Habitat: Subtidal reef region.


Siderastrea savignyana

Symphyllia radians

Vase CoralColonies are composed of unifacial laminae which are highly contorted and fused when growing in subtidal habitats, are upright or tiered when on upper reef slopes and are horizontal in deeper water. This variation is determined by light availability. Usually grey-green or grey-brown.

Habitat: Dominant species in shallow turbid environments.

IUCN Status: Vulnerable (V).Turbinaria mesenterina

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Bowl CoralColonies are flat plate. Often seen growing in loose sand, loose boulders and chanks in Gulf of Kachchh.

Habitat: It usually occur in shallow rocky foreshores with turbid water. Also occurs on shallow reef slopes.

IUCN Status: Vulnerable (V).

Yellow Scroll CoralColonies are composed of unifacial laminae, sometimes forming tiers, but mostly they are horizontal. Usually yellow green or brown with distinct colour at the margin.

Habitat: Sometime form large stands on fringing reef where the water is turbid.

IUCN Status: Vulnerable (V).Turbinaria reniformis

Turbinaria peltata

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Soft CoralsAs their name indicates, soft corals lack protective armor of calcium salts and feels somewhat soft compared to hard corals. However, they are not spongy like sponges, many of them have hard sheath giving them mechanical strength. Soft corals are also colonial animals and individual animal is known as “Polyp”. No symbiotic algae are associated with soft corals. Soft corals are found in different shapes like fans, pens, whips, cauliflower etc. Due to lack of capacity to secret calcium salts, soft corals do not contribute to coral reef formation.

Habitat: Exclusively marine and have wider distribution across the world compared to hard corals. Sea fans (Gorgonians) like soft corals are sessile and require hard substratum to fix their holdfast, whereas, Sea pens (Pennatula) are example of sedentary life forms requiring muddy bottom.

Food and feeding habits: Like hard corals, soft corals are active predators and hunt their prey (zooplankton) using nematocysts.

Legal statusAlong with hard corals, soft corals are also facing extinction due to anthropogenic activities.

All the soft corals are covered in Schedule – I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 extending

them the highest legal protection in India.

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Snowflake CoralColonies are busy and densely branching with 5-8 cm long, bright orange, white and beige in colour.

Habitat: Common habitat of this species is the harbours, pier pilings or wreckwhich are not exposed to direct sun light or in sheltered and shaded crevices or shallow caves.

IUCN Status: Not yet assessed.Carijoa riisei

Sea FanThe structure of a gorgonian colony varies. The suborder Holaxonia skeletons are formed from a flexible, horny substance called Gorgonin.

Habitat: They are found throughout the oceans of the world, especially in the tropics and subtropics.

Legal Status: They are included in Schedule - I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.IUCN Status: Not yet assessed.Gorgonia sp.

Cauliflower CoralIt can grow from 70 cm to 1m. Colour varies from pink to orange with transparent trunk. Usually contracts during day time.

Habitat: It can be seen in shallow to deep fore-reef slope. It prefers shade place with moderate current.


Dendronephthya sp.

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Do you know?• Soft corals are soft bodied animal made up of large number of polyps connected by fleshy tissue.

• They lack limestone skeleton found on their relatives, the hard coral.

• They prefer to live in coral reef environment along with other coral.

• Presence of spiky spicules protects them from their predator.

• It is important to protect coral reef environment and never remove or break any coral.

• During reef walking, we are not supposed to stamp coral and stick on to sandy part.

Sea PenAs octocorals, sea pens are colonial animals with multiple polyps. Using their root-like peduncles to anchor themselves in sandy or muddy substrate, the exposed portion of sea pens may rise up to 2 metres (6.6 ft) in some species.

Habitat: Sandy expanses and slopes. Feeds on Zooplankton.

IUCN Status: Not yet assessedPennatula sp.

Hand CoralThis coral is shaped like a hand with its palm up and this is the reason why it adopted this name. Its colour varies incredibly and largely depends on the photosynthetic algae that live in symbiosis with the coral.

Habitat: It is most abundant in the flat areas of the reef.

IUCN Status: Not yet assessedLobophytum pauciflorum

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Sea Anemone Phylum: Cnidaria

Sea anemones are close relatives of corals. They are among conspicuous fauna of coral reefs. Sea anemones occur in different colours and sizes. Most of the sea anemones live solitary and sessile/sedentary life while a few others are colonial. They are easy to identify with lots of tentacles on a disk like structure and slit like mouth in the center. Some sea anemones inhabit into tube made of body slime and sediments are known as Tube Anemones.

Habitat: Sea anemones can be found virtually anywhere on coral reefs. They require hard substratum to attach their paddle disk. However, in nature we can only see their oral disk with tentacles extended over sandy/muddy bottom. On disturbing the tentacles, sea anemones retract into their column buried inside the bottom.

Food and feeding habits: Sea anemones are carnivores and predators. They feed upon small marine creatures like tiny fishes, shrimps, copepods etc. Like corals, they also have nematocysts to paralyze/kill preys.

Do you know?• Sea anemones are named after the anemone flower and that is why it is known as flower

of the sea

• Sea anemone lives more than 80 years.

• Pieces of Sea anemone can turn into new sea anemone.

• Sea anemone are a large group of soft bodied animals closely related to corals

• They are found worldwide but are numerous in tropical waters

• They are carnivores and use their tentacles to catch prey

• Clown fish always live near Sea anemone; they are immune from the stinging tentacle which protects them from their predators. The clown fish help the anemone by cleaning tentacles (as fish eat detritus). The clown fish also scare away the organism which comes to predate on anemone.

• They spend most of their life in one place. They can attach themselves to rocks and sometimes even bury themselves in the mud.

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Giant Carpet AnemoneThis species will grow not larger than 50 cm – 80 cm in diameter. The oral disk expands when submerged. The large oral disk covered with short tentacles so that it resembles a shaggy carpet

Habitat: Resides on shallow sea grass beds or sand flats around 8 centimeters.

IUCN Status: Not yet assessed.Stichodactyla gigantea

Leathery AnemoneThis species can attain a size of up to 30 cm in diameter. Tentacles are long but sparse.

Habitat: Found in shallow sand region and seaward slopes.


Heteractis sp.

Tube-dwelling AnemoneDwells in soft tube of sediments, tube diameter is 1-1.5 inch, brown to dark pink color of tentacles

Habitat: Found outside of the reef it resides in rocky substrate.


Cerianthus sp.

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Carpet AnemoneThis species can attain a size of up to 3 feet in diameter. Pale to dark greenish in color, tentacles stubby, alternate marginal tentacles are longer and white in color

Habitat: Found outside of the reef it resides in soft muddy or sandy substrate.

IUCN Status: Not yet assessed.Stichodactyla haddoni

Despite their flowery looks, sea anemones are actually awesome predators. But they don’t need teeth and claws to be tough. They have a secret weapon: Those pretty waving “petals” are stinging tentacles!

An anemone’s tentacles contain thousands of tiny capsules. Inside each is a coiled, thread-like “spear” filled with venom.

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Zoanthus Zoanthus are group of colonial animals found in marine waters. Here also individual animal of the colony is known as Polyp. Polyps, like corals, do not have any outer protective armor of calcium. Individuals of the colony are attached to each other by stem in a network like fashion which enables them to share food/energy and pass on stimuli across the colony. Mouth is encircled by tentacles.

Habitat: Zoanthus are tough space competitors and can come over any inundated hard strata in marine environment. Shallow regions like rock pools, tide pools, rock boulders are destinations to search for zoanthus. Areas experiencing brief exposure during ebb tides can also harbour zoanthus.

Food and Feeding habits: They are predators. Use nematocysts to capture prey like small larvae of crustaceans and other zooplankton.

Do you know?• Most of the well-known zoanthids and zooxanthellae genera found in tropical and sub

tropical waters

• Some zoanthids contain the highly toxic substance palytoxin which is fatal even at small quantity

• An aquarist was poisoned through skin injuries on fingering by a Parazoanthus species.

• Zoanthids are part of the class Anthozoa, which includes the soft and leather corals, sea anemone, mushroom coral and stony coral (excluding other cnidarians such as fire coral, lace coral, jelly fish and sea wasp)

• Typically, a colony of zoanthids with open polyp will form a continuous swath with no space between the tentacular crowns.

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Sea MatThey are green in colour and form mat like structure. Their outer layer is tough as a result of incorporated sediments. Possess larger oral disc.

Ecology: They are competitor for coral. Can be seen on dead corals.


Sea MatThey are orange in colour and form mat like structure. They have polyps at the end of the stalk. Their outer layer is tough as a result of incorporated sediments. Possess larger oral disc.

Ecology: They are competitor for coral. They can be seen along with live and dead coral.


Palythoa sp.

Prortopalythoa sp.

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Jelly Fish (Phylum: Cnidaria)

Despite the name, jellyfish is not a true fish. Jellyfishes are free swimming marine animal with exception of few freshwater species. Their translucent body resembles the jelly, hence, given the name. Jellyfishes have stinging cells (nematocysts) on their tentacles to hunt the prey. Though not all, many jellyfishes produce poisonous compounds which are lethal to humans. Jellyfishes are normal to encounter off the coast in waters of Marine National Park. However, in intertidal area, chances are less to sight jellyfishes as most of them are drawn away with receding waters during low tides.

Habitat: open waters.

Food and feeding habits: Small fishes and other marine creatures. Jellyfishes have centrally located mouth underneath the umbrella shaped body. Mouth is encircled by tentacles.

Do you know?• Box Jellyfish found in tropical Indo-Pacific waters are the deadliest jellyfish of the world

• An assemblage of Jelly fish is called as swarm or a smack

• Jellies are 95% water

• Some Jelly fish such as Bubbler Jellies, a delicacy in part of Asia, are edible.

• The Jelly reportedly can play its lifecycle in reverse, transforming from an adult medusa back to an immature polyp

• Jellies have been known to eat other Jellies

• The creature lack not only bones, heads, hearts and brain but rather they have a loose network of nerves located in the epidermis, which is called a “nerve net”.

• Jelly fish can sting even when they are dead.

First Aid for Jelly fish sting• Wash the area with sea water to deactivate stinging cells

• Rinse immediately with vinegar and do not use fresh water or tap water which will reactivate the stinging cells

• Continue until you can get medical help.

FIRST AID

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Moon Jelly FishIt can grow up to 25 cm across. The organism is transparent with four ear-like reproductive tissues, and hair like tentacles.

Ecology: This species is often seen in shallow waters, coral reef after storms. Sting cause a brief prickly sensation.

Aurelia aurita

Do you know?

Sea Turtle feeds on jelly fish. Sometime due to marine pollution, they consume polythene bags which resembles like jelly fish and this leads to their death which drastically affects the food chain.

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Sabella is a genus of marine polychaete worm. Members of this genus are filter feeders and there are about ninety species. Crown will grow up to 5 cm. Tentacular crown horse-shaped to circular.

Ecology: Sand pockets near reefs.


Sabellastarte indica

Sabella / Feather Duster Worm(Phylum: Annelida)

Sabella is tube dwelling segmented worm found exclusively in marine environments. The animal lives inside tube made of its slimy secretion and sediments (soft tube). Only its crown of tentacles extends outside of the tube to trap food from surrounding water. Sabella is very sensitive to disturbances, on a slightest of disturbance; it retracts its crown inside the tube in the blink of an eye.

Habitat: Sabella is sedentary tube dwelling animal, generally prefer soft bottom covered with coarse sand. Seen on coral reef.

Food and feeding habits: Carnivorous, minute animals (zooplankton). Filter outs food particles from surrounding waters with help of its crown of tentacles (filter feeders).

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This species possesses setae and parapodia for locomotion. The chaetae are for crawling and are the bristles that are visible on the exterior of the polychaeta.

Ecology: They are found in rocky shore environment and in the crevices.

Nereis sp.

Bristle Worm(Phylum: Annelida)

Bristle worm is a member of segmented worm group. Spiny looking worm10-15 cm long, turf of spines extends on both sides of each segment. Spines exert painful wound on skin.

Habitat: Bottom dweller, found hidden under rocks, crevices.

Food and feeding habits: Carnivorous. Predate on small marine animals.

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Do you know?• A special pigment gives green color to the animal, which protects animal from predator.

• Male lives as a parasite in the sexual ducts of the female

Bonellia(Phylum: Echiura)

Bonellia worm is represented by Acanthobonellia pirotanensis species in Marine National Park. This species is endemic to Gulf of Kachchh and named after famous Pirotan Island of Marine National Park. It is unique animal which shows “Environmental Sex Determination”, i.e., sex of developing larvae are determined by the surrounding environmental factor rather than genetic information. If the larvae of this animal come in contact with adult female during developmental stage, they develop into adult male, whereas the larvae developing away from adult female result into adult females. The hormones secreted by adult female influence the larval development and govern sex determination.

Habitat: Sediment covered hard substratum. Female of this worm resides in burrows/crevices, only long, bifurcated (Y-shaped) proboscis remains extended outside of the burrow. Male dwells inside of adult female.

Food and feeding habits: Detrivores. Feed on organic matter mixed with sediments. Extended proboscis collects sediments and diverts it to mouth through longitudinal groove.

Acanthobonellia pirotanensis – Bonellia worm

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Do you know?• Research has claimed many Antibiotic compounds of medicinal importance from crabs. • Average crabs live no longer than 3 years• Crabs also called as Decapods, which means 10 legs• If a crab loses its claw, the claw grows back.• Male crabs have larger claws than female• Collective name for a group of crabs is called as a “cast”• Baby crabs are called as hatchlings

Crabs(Phylum: Arthropoda)

Crabs are oddly shaped animals found in freshwaters, brackish waters, marine waters and on land. Their body is dorso-ventrally flattened and armored with exoskeleton. Crabs have unique walking pattern as all the crabs walk sideways. Their legs, especially last pair, are modified to meet specific requirements of the species, e.g., swimmers have last pair modified into paddle whereas, legs of sand crab are adapted to meet cursorial lifestyle on beaches. Distinct sexual dimorphism makes it easy to determine sex of crabs. Males have larger Claws and “V” shaped abdomen and females have “U” shaped abdomen. Crabs are economically important. Many species of crabs are treated as delicacy across the world. Due to their demand, they are reared in aquaculture farms.

Habitat: Crabs are benthic animals living near to the bottom of the sea. They excavate burrows on the bottom. Their burrows have very complex architecture including dedicated space for resting.

Atergatis integerrimus - Queen Crab

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Clibanarius sp. - Hermit crab

Pilumnus vespertilio - Wolf Crab

Uca sp. - Fiddler crabThalamita crenata - Mangrove swimming crab

Ocypode quadrata - Ghost Crab

Scylla serrata - Mud crab

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Do you know?• Barnacles invade hull of ships for getting better foraging. This creates drag in water which

slows down speed of the vessel, thus, breaking fuel economy.

• Barnacles are arthropods. That means they are invertebrate animals with an exoskeleton

• Young sea barnacles can swim and move around, so their habitat is somewhat larger. Once they reach adulthood, the barnacles will attach themselves to a rocky surface, where they remain for the rest of their lives.

• Barnacles have attracted the attention of researchers because the glue that barnacles use to attach themselves so firmly to rocks works wonderfully well on wet surface – something that conventional glues do not work.

Barnacles(Phylum: Arthropoda)

Barnacles are exclusively marine animals closely related to crabs. Adults are sessile. They live inside their shell all the times.

Habitat: Barnacles require hard surface, e.g., rocks, shells and skin of large animals (whales). Generally found in splash zone and shallow intertidal rock pools.

Food and feeding habits: Feed on plankton and detritus. Barnacles are suspension feeders, they use specialized tentacle like appendages, known as “Cirri”, to create mouth ward current in surrounding water medium.

Balanus sp. - Barnacles

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Do you know?• Anemone shrimp have adapted to live among the stinging tentacles of Sea anemone

• It is also called as dancing shrimp due to the way it moves its body.

• Anemone and popcorn shrimp have symbiotic relationship.

• They move by walking slowly across the sea floor but when fleeing from a predator, they swim backward quickly and uncurling their abdomen and this is called as caridiod escape reaction.

Anemone Shrimp(Phylum: Arthropoda)

The shrimps living symbiotic relationship with tentacles of giant sea anemones are known as Anemone shrimps. They are often found in pair associated with Giant Sea-anemone in Marine National Park reefs. Male is larger than females. Body is translucent with white spots. Tips of appendages and claws are purple in colour.

Habitat: These shrimps are adapted to live without getting affected with nematocysts of host animal.

Food and feeding habits: Feed upon remnants of sea anemone’s food.

Periclimenes brevicarpalis - Anemone shrimp or popcorn shrimp, male and female

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Bursa granularis - Granular Frog ShellAngaria plicata

Cantharus spirales - Whelks

Shells(Phylum: Mollusca)

Shells are soft bodied animals with hard shell of calcium carbonate. They are found in both,

aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem. However, marine shells have attracted humans since

long due to their colourful patterns and shapes. Some members like cowries were used

as currency during historical time. Large shells like Sacred Chank have got high religious

importance. They have constituted food of humans in many parts of the world. Following

are few commonly encountered shells in the Marine National Park.

Cantharus undosus - Waved Globlet

36 Murex sp. - Murex

Clypidina notata – Limpet

Littorina sp. - Periwinkle shells

Cardium flavum - Heart Clam

Cypraea caurica - Caurica Cowrie

Nassarius distortus - Distorted Nassa

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Scutus unguis - Hoof ScutusPinna bicolor - Pinna

Nautica picta - Moon Snail

Telescopium telescopium - Telescope Shell

Nerita sp. - False Periwinkle

Stomatia phymotis - Wide-mouthed Shell

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Turbo bruneus - Dwarf Turban

Do you know?• Seashells are the external skeletons of a class of marine animal called Mollusk.

• Seashells are primarily made up of calcium.

• Shells protect the creature from predators, strong currents, and storm. It also helps in camouflage.

• Hermit crabs use discarded mollusk shell for self protection. As the hermit crab grows it will look for larger shells to use for protection.

• Mollusks can turn their shells different colour by eating a variety of colourful food. For example red seaweed gives some sea animal a red shell.

• Ancient people cleaned out and removed the living organism from the shell, and used them as container for food, water and even as ornaments.

• Seashells are big business. Shells are sold in tourist attractions at the seashore areas. Variety of things like ornaments, household items etc are sold all over the world.

• Some seashells are included in Schedule - IV of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

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Do you know?• Female of octopus is known as hen

• Octopus ejects ink for defense mechanism

• Octopus ink is made up of melanin pigment, the pigment which is present in human skin

• Blue ringed octopus has enough venom to kill human and it is responsible for at least two confirmed death every year

• Octopus always prefers dark or shaded place

• An adult octopus eats its young one when it does not find other prey

• Male octopuses die within few months of mating, but males in larger species live longer up to 3 – 4 years.

• Octopuses have three heart and two gills

• The female octopus can lay up to 150,000 eggs in two weeks.

Octopus(Phylum: Mollusca)

Octopus is among highly intelligent invertebrates. Its odd body shape has attracted tourists since ever. Eight long arms are connected to globular head; all other body organs are concealed in head region. Arms have row of suckers. Mouth is provided with parrot like beak and is located under side of head, surrounded by arms. It has got highly developed eye sight of all the invertebrates. It can sense threat far better than other marine animals and move away from the place. It has excellent ability to camouflage with surrounding. On sensing threat, it swiftly changes its body colour and skin texture to match surrounding. Squirts ink to create cloudy water to facilitate escape.

Habitat: Octopus occupies abandon burrows in sandy/rocky bottom. It is easy to locate in shallow tide-pools during low tides.

Food and feeding habits: Carnivorous. Highly specialized predator, use suckers on arms to capture prey. Bivalves, crabs, small fishes comprise its food menu.

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Common OctopusThe colouring and texture of the octopus is highly variable. When disturbed, it can be white, but most commonly, this animal is mottled reddish-brown. Around the suckers on the arm are usually dark ring. The texture can be smooth or with points. The arms in rest are 3 to 4 times the body length. Total size of this organism is 30-50cm including arms.

Habitat: The common octopus is typically found in the tropical waters throughout the world. They prefer the floor of relatively shallow, rocky. They prefer coastal waters and often no deeper than 200 meters.

Octopus vulgaris

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Do you know?• The coast of Navanagar State (Jamnagar district at present) was known for its rich pearl

oyster beds• Pearl is secreted by the epithelial cells of the mantle; a curtain of tissue between the shell

and body mass is deposited in successive layer around an irritating object.• Pearls found attached to the inner surface of the shell are known as blister pearl• The best pearls are usually white, sometime with creamy or pinkish tinge, but may be

tinted with yellow, green, blue brown or black.

Pearl Oyster(Phylum: Mollusca)

Pearl oyster is marine bivalve (clam). It is small oyster of 10-12 cm while adult. In nature, it can be identified based on its serrated margins and distinct notch on one side near the hinge. Dead shell of this oyster has pearl like shining inner surface. Like other clams, adults of pearl oyster live sessile life attached to hard substratum on the sea floors. It has high commercial value due to its ability to form natural pearls, the precious gems. Any foreign particle, e.g., bacteria, sand etc. coming in contact of body tissue of pearl oyster stimulates irritation to the oyster. The irritation is subsided by secretion of indigenous liquids which envelop the cause of irritation. Gradually, the liquid hardens and converts into shining pearl.

Habitat: Hard sand covered substratum.

Food and feeding habits: Pearl oyster is a filter feeder. Feeds on micro algae.

Pinctada fucata

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Do you know?• Generally, raw oysters are safe to eat, but just as with the common consumption of any

type of raw fish or sea food, there is a possibility for food-borne illness.

• They are an excellent source of Zinc, calcium, potassium and vitamin B-12, which our body needs for hundreds of different biochemical process to occur.

Window Pane Oyster They are bivalves with very translucent shells, which were used traditionally in window in Asia and, more recently for shell-craft items. It also produces pearl that are exploited commercially.

Habitat: It can be seen in rocky shore environment and it is abundant in both west coast and east coast of India.

Placuna placenta

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Nudibranch / Sea Slug(Phylum: Mollusca)

Molluscs are highly developed animals without an inner skeleton. The basic molluscan body consists of a muscular foot below a visceral mass and mantle which in some groups secretes a shell made up of calcium carbonate with an outer protective protein layer. The mouth, anus, gills and chemical sensor are located in a cavity under the mantle.

Habitat: They can be seen worldwide including both tropics and Antarctica. They live from all depth of salt water, right from intertidal zone to 700 m. The greatest diversity of nudibranchs is seen in warm and shallow reefs. Sakuraeolis gujaratica is point endemic to Gulf of Kachchh and found only in a very small area of 200-300 sq. mts on Poshitra reef.

Food and feeding habit: All known nudibranchs are carnivorous. Some feed on sponges, others on hydroids others on bryozoans and some eat other sea slugs or their eggs or, on some occasions, they are cannibals and prey on members of their own species.

Aplysia dactylomela Bornella stellifer

Dendrodoris nigra Elysia thompsoni

44 Sakuraeolis gujaratica

Glossodoris pallid

Hypselodoris capensis

Elysia tomentosa

Haminoea ovalis

Jorunna funebris

45

Do you know?• There are over 2,000 species of starfish

• Starfish are about 5 to 10 inches, and can weigh 11 lbs

• If a starfish is chopped into pieces, each piece can grow a whole new starfish

• Starfish can have four or more arms, some have 12, but most have 5 arms

• Starfish do not have brains and blood

Star Fish or Sea Star(Phylum: Echinodermata)

Starfishes are spiny skinned marine creatures commonly known as stars of the sea. Starfishes are benthic animals. They are flattened animals with mouth surrounded by 5 or more arms. The arms have numerous specially adapted tubes, also known as tube feet, for locomotion. Starfish has remarkable ability of regeneration. It can regenerate from small piece of its body, e.g., separated arm.

Habitat: Starfishes can be found underneath the rocks, in-between crevices.

Food and feeding habits: Majority are predator, feed upon sessile/slow moving animals like oysters and molluscan shells. Some starfishes are detritus feeders, get nutrients from decomposing organic matter on bottom. Crown- of-thorn (Acanthaster planci), a starfish, feed on corals and is serious threat to coral reefs in many parts of the world.

Asterina sp. – Sea Star

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Do you know?• There are over 200 types of sea urchins

• Their shell is called as “test”

• The long and sharp spines protects them from predator

• Sea urchin can move freely over hard surface using adhesive tube feet, which works in conjunction with the spines.

• The flower urchin have venom tipped spines

• They carve out hole in rocks to live in.

Sea Urchin(Phylum: Echinodermata)

Sea urchins are spiny, spherical animals dwelling on bottom of the seas. They are found in a range of colours. Sea urchins move with help of spines and tube feet.

Habitat: Found in lower intertidal areas, often observed with algal turfs.

Food and feeding habits: Majority feed on algae. Sea urchins have jaws specialized to cut and chew plant matter.

Salmacis bicolor – Sea Urchin

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Do you know?Increased acidity in the oceans is likely to threaten brittle star larvae. By the middle of this century it is likely that they will have difficulty developing and many, if not all, are expected to die after exposure to acidified conditions due to marine pollution.

Brittle stars are the fastest-moving echinoderms! While sea stars use their tube feet to move slowly, brittle stars use their highly flexible, spiny arms instead.

The mouths of brittle stars are located on their underside. They have no anus, so wastes are also expelled through the mouth.

Brittle Star(Phylum: Echinodermata)

Brittle stars are exclusively marine animals similar to starfishes. They have distinct disk located centrally. Arms are slender, whip-like which extend from disk. Locomotion is by flexible arm movements. Arms are very fragile, easily breakup on rough handling.

Habitat: Underneath of rocks and crevices, may be found foraging in tide- pools and sandy bottoms.

Food and feeding habits: Mostly scavengers or detritivoures. Extract decomposing organic matter from sediments.

Ophiacantha indica - Banded Brittle Star

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Do you know?• Feather stars have water-vascular (ambulacral) systems, similar to those in other

echinoderms that extend into the branched arms on the body, or crown.

• Some can swim by undulating movements of the arms

• Feather stars creep about by means of projections at the base of the crown, called cirri, which can grasp bottom objects

• Some feather stars can have as many as 200 arms

• They can also crawl, roll, walk and swim but they usually are attach to sponges or corals

• Although crinoids are the least understood of living echinoderms, their skeletal remains are among the most abundant and important of fossils

Feather Star(Phylum: Echinodermata)

Feather stars are close relatives of starfishes. Their name is derived from feathery appearance of arms. Arms are bifurcated at base connected with central disk. Species found in shallow depths are free swimmers, whereas, deep sea species have stalk to attach with bottom.

Habitat: Water inundated sandy/muddy bottom

Food and feeding habits: Feather stars are filter feeders. They use feather like “Cirri” attached to arms to create mouth ward current to catch food particles.

Oxycomanthus bennetti - Feather Stars

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Do you know?• Many species of sea cucumbers are edible and are delicacy in many part of the world.

They are also source of important medicinal compounds

• Sea cucumbers are actually nocturnal

• The lifespan will vary from type to type of sea cucumber, as there are 900 different kinds, but the general lifespan the class of sea cucumbers is 5-10 years

• More specifically, it is most commonly eaten in China, Japan, and Taiwan

• Cucumbers breathe from the anus

Legal status: Sea cucumbers are included in Schedule – I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in India.

Sea Cucumber(Phylum: Echinodermata)

Sea cucumbers are interesting animals of marine realm. Their skin is leathery opposite to other members of echinodermata. They are radialy symmetrical. Mouth and anus are located on opposite end of body. Mouth is surrounded by tree of tentacles (often not seen if retracted inside body). Mean of locomotion is tube feet.

Habitat: Sea cucumbers are bottom dwellers. Generally found in crevices and underneath of rocks.

Food and feeding habits: Feed on debris accumulated on sea floor (scavengers).

Holothuria sp. – Sea Cucumber

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Do you know?• The animal feeds on small and large food particles by capturing with the help of tiny

appendages.

• One of the important behaviors of sand dollars is burrowing sand. This little and flat creature is set to dig the sand using tiny spines.

• The female dollars will release the eggs and the males will release sperm on the water. This reproduction time is seen on spring season.

• An adult usually lives around 8 years.

• They live in groups and create a neighborhood.

Sand Dollar(Phylum: Echinodermata)

Sand dollars are flat coin like animals of marine environment. Body is enclosed in symmetrical rigid skeleton made of calcium carbonate, and have star like pattern on opposite side of mouth. Locomotion is by tube feet.

Habitat: Bottom dwellers. Live burrowing life on sandy/muddy sea floors near to low tide areas. Dead specimens often seen washed ashore on beaches.

Food and feeding habits: Its food consists of crustacean larvae, small copepods, diatoms, algae and detritus.

Laganum depressum – Sand Dollar

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Do you know?• Puffer fish is also known as ‘Balloon fish’ or ‘Blow fish’. This is basically because of its

capacity to fill its highly elastic stomach with large amount of water or even air to give it a shape of a balloon or ball which helps to deter predator to swallow it.

• Puffers are the second most poisonous next after Golden Frog and there is no antidote available

• There are more than 150 species found in the world

• The poison of Puffer fish can be deadlier than Cyanide. But this poison is useless against Sharks. As a result a shark can eat them without any trouble

Puffer Fish(Phylum: Chordata)

Puffer fishes are among prime attractions of Marine National Park. They are large fishes. Dorsally dark greenish with 3-4 black lateral strips, belly is off white with small spines. Fins are small, dorsal fin is absent. Eyes are reddish orange. Mouth has sharp teeth like ridges of bone. It has got remarkable ability to inflate (puff up) its body. On threatening by other fish or animal, it puffs up raising abdominal spines and body size. Body organs contain poison “Tetrodotoxin” which can cause death on consuming.

Habitat: Open waters. Often encounter in shallow intertidal pools, channels and lagoons during low tides.

Food and feeding habits: Carnivoures, feed on small fishes and small animals including corals’ polyps.

Tetraodon lineatus – Puffer Fish

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Do you know?• In this species, the Pectoral and 1st Dorsal fins are with stout venomous spine that is even

fatal.

• Their body is like eel.

• Juveniles form dense ball-shaped school.

• One catfish can lay up to 4,000 eggs a year per pound of body weight

• The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds

• The Candiru, a small, South American catfish is the only vertebrate parasite of people. It has been known to enter the urethra of bathers and swimming animal

Catfish(Phylum: Chordata)

Juveniles of this fish are often seen in tide-pools forming ball shaped schools whereas, adults are mostly solitary. Individuals have small barbs around mouth. Body contains longitudinal white strips. Spines of dorsal fin are covered in toxic mucus which can poison human.

Habitat: Tide-pools and lagoons

Food and feeding habits: Feed on crustaceans, mollusks, and fishes. Adults search and stir the sand incessantly for crustaceans, mollusks, worms, and sometimes fish.

Plotosus lineatus – Eel cat fish

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Do you know?• Whale sharks are harmless and human can approach them without any risk as long as they

avoid molesting them.

• They live over 70 years

• They like to live alone; groups have very rarely been seen.

• Swims very slowly at about 5km/h

Legal status: Included under Schedule – I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in India

Whale Shark(Phylum: Chordata)

It is the biggest fish that has four feet wide mouth. It is a filter feeder which sieves enormous amount of plankton to eat through its gills as it swims. The whale shark grows up to 46 feet (14 m) length and weighs up to 15 tons. The average size is 25 feet (7.6m) long.

Habitat: Found worldwide in warm oceans from equator to about ±30-40° latitude. They are regularly spotted by the fishermen in the coastal areas from Sutrapada, Veraval to Okha.

Rhincodon typus - Whale shark

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Do you know?• Stingrays are eaten in many countries. Their skin is used to make upholstery.• There are about 70 species of sting ray in the world and they are related to shark. • They spend most of their life motionless buried in the sand.• The lifespan of sting ray is about 15 – 25 years.• A group of stingray is commonly referred to as “fever” of sting ray• The stingray’s tail is located with a barb that can be serrated and sharp. The venom can be

dangerous to human and was used as anesthetic in Ancient Greece.

Legal status: Included under Schedule – I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in India.

Stingray(Phylum: Chordata)

Stingrays are common in coastal tropical and subtropical marine waters throughout the world. Body is dorso-ventrally flattened. Eyes are on dorsal side. Long whip like tail contain one or two stout poisonous spine. Stingrays are usually very docile and curious; mostly they flee away on disturbance. But if it is threatened, it attacks with its spiny tail.

Habitat: Stingrays live near to sea floor. It may be difficult to sight stingray hidden underneath bottom sediments. Its presence can be determined through long tail while hidden in sand.

Food and feeding habits: Feed on small mollusks and fishes.

Neotrygon kuhlii – Sting ray

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Do you know?• Although they are fish, seahorses are not great swimmers. In fact, Seahorses prefer to rest

in one area, sometimes holding on to the same coral or seaweed for days.• Many seahorses are monogamous, meaning they mate for life. The male and female have

an elaborate, daily courtship ritual, involving a “dance” where they entwine their tails, and may change colors.

Legal status: Included in Schedule – I species of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in India.

Seahorse(Phylum: Chordata)

Seahorse is a bony fish found in marine waters. It closely resembles the horse, hence, given the name. Body lacks scales and has thin skin stretched over bony plates. Pectoral fins are located behind eyes, dorsal fins create main force to propel, no caudal fins. Tail is prehensile, used to remain attached to plants/ seaweeds. It swims in up-right position. Males carry a brood pouch, wherein it carries eggs. Live, small juvenile sea horses emerge from the brood pouch after 30-45 days.

Habitat: Mainly found in shallow tropical and temperate waters throughout the world. They prefer to live in sheltered areas such as sea grass beds, estuaries, coral reefs, or mangroves. In Marine National Park, seahorses are sometimes encountered on coral reefs near Okha region.

Food and feeding habits: Seahorses feed on small crustaceans floating in the water or crawling on the bottom. With excellent camouflage and a lot of patience, seahorses ambush prey that float within striking range.

Hippocampus sp. – Sea horse

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Threats: Like other reptiles, sea turtles also need to breath. Entanglement into fishing nets smothers their lives. Boat strikes, loss of feeding grounds, poaching by humans are direct threats whereas, destruction of nesting beaches (habitat loss), egg predation by animals and by humans are indirect threats to sea turtle population.

Legal status: Green sea turtle is protected under Schedule – I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in India and declared as Endangered by IUCN worldwide.

Green Sea Turtle(Phylum: Chordata)

Green sea turtle is one of the largest sea turtles of the world. Its common name derives from the usually green fat found beneath their carapace (upper shell). The green sea turtle bears dorso-ventrally flattened body covered by a large, teardrop-shaped carapace and a pair of large, paddle-like flippers. Beaked head is followed by short neck. Adult green turtles grow to 1.5 metres long. While individuals have been caught that reached weights of up to 315 kilograms, the average weight of mature individuals is 110–190 kilograms.

Habitat: Green sea turtles are great travelers in the sea. Its range extends throughout tropical and subtropical seas around the world. They migrate from their feeding grounds to breeding grounds covering thousands of kilometers. They generally spend most of the time near the shallow coral reef areas. This species of sea turtle visit areas of Marine National Park and surroundings. Females of this turtle lay eggs on sandy beaches of Marine National Park and coastal sandy beaches near Dwarka, Okhamadhi, Madhavpur etc.

Food and feeding habits: Juveniles of green sea turtle are carnivorous. Adults are commonly found in sea grass meadows closer inshore as herbivorous grazers.

Chelonia mydas – Green sea turtle

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Do you know?• These ancient creatures have been on Earth for more than 100 million years• Sea turtles often drown when caught in fishing gear, both nets and long lines• Coastal development can destroy important nesting sites, impact coral reefs, and artificial

light from houses and other buildings attracts hatchlings away from the ocean• Pollution like plastic bags are often mistaken for food such as jellyfish and ingested, which

blocks their intestines and potentially kills them

Legal status: Olive Ridley turtle is protected under Schedule – I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in India and declared as Vulnerable by IUCN worldwide.

Olive Ridley Turtle(Phylum: Chordata)

Olive ridley turtle is small sea turtle compared to Green sea turtle. Carapace is heart shaped. This species of sea turtle is famous for its aggregation in thousands of numbers for nesting. The mass nesting phenomenon is known as “Arribada” literally mean arrival in Spanish language.

Habitat: Olive ridley turtle most typically observed within 15 kilometers of mainland shores in protected, relatively shallow marine waters (22-55m). Olive ridleys will occasionally occur in open waters. The multiple habitats and geographical localities used by this species vary throughout its life cycle.

Food and feeding habits: Olive ridley turtle is carnivorous turtle. It consumes jellyfishes, small fishes, tunicates, and other small invertebrates.

Lepidochelys olivacea – Olive ridley

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Dromas ardeola - Crab Plover

Sea Birds(Phylum: Chordata)

Along with other marine life, the Marine National Park is a destination to observe wonderful life on flights - the sea birds. Some birds, otherwise rare, are common to this area. Some of the migratory birds also visit these areas. The avian diversity include some of the globally threatened species like Oriental Darter, Painted Stork, Black-necked Stork, Black-headed Ibis, Lesser Flamingo, Pallid Harrier, Laggar Falcon, Black-bellied Tern, European Roller, Dalmatian Pelican, Spot-billed Pelican, Greater Spotted Eagle, Sarus Crane, Indian Skimmer, Houbara Bustard. It is very common to observe Crab Plovers, Sand pipers, Black Winged Stilts, Cormorants, Darters, Reef Egrets, variety of Terns and Gulls, Painted Storks and Flamingos etc. foraging in the intertidal area during low tides. Ecologically, the sea birds constitute a vital link in the food chain maintaining equilibrium in marine ecosystem.

Habitat: Seabirds are generally observed near seashores. During ebb tides, these birds are found foraging in the intertidal areas. During high tides they disperse in the surrounding coastal vegetation including mangrove forests.

Food and feeding habits: Most of the birds are carnivorous. Birds like Darters, Gulls, Cormorants, Egret feed on small fishes, whereas, Crab Plovers feed on crabs and small crustaceans found in the marine environment. These birds have many adaptations to meet their specific food requirements. Fish eating birds have longer beaks for effective catching of prey. Flamingos feed on micro animals and plants, they have filtering mechanism in beaks to drain away excess water and mud but retain suspended food.

Anhinga melanogaster - Oriental Darter

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Phoenicopterus minor - Lesser Flamingo

Mycteria leucocephala - Painted Stork

Rynchops albicollis - Indian Skimmer

Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus - Black-neck Stork

Pelecanus crispus - Dalmatian Pelican

Egretta gularis - Western Reef Egret

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Do you know?• Atlantic tern travels round trip from the Arctic to the Antarctic and back each year -

a total distance of over 22,000 miles! Not measurable, however, is the distance traveled by the Sooty Tern, which is known to stay in flight for years without touching ground.

• Emperor penguins are the deepest divers, reaching depths of as much as 870 feet

• Cormorants are known as “pursuit divers”. They dive from the surface using their feet for underwater propulsion. Divers have reported seeing them snagging fish over 100 feet below the surface

• The Cormorant has been trained and used by humans for fishing in Asia uninterrupted for 1300 years

• Brown Pelicans, which we mainly see on the Sea of Cortez, are skilled fliers and aerial hunter.

• The name for pelican in Portuguese/Spanish is “Alcatraz”, from Arabian Al-qadus meaning “water carrier”, because it was believed that pelicans carried water for their young in their large beaks

• Seabirds drink only sea water but never get sick because of desalinization glands in their heads that filter the salt from the water which is excreted through their nostrils

• Sea birds have their own natural built-in sunglasses. Their eyes contain special droplets of red oil in the retinas, which act as a sun filter to help with the glare from the sea and sand.

• Hummingbirds can fly backwards.

• Darter, Egrets, Flamingos, Ibises, Pelicans and Storks are included in Schedule - IV of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

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Do you know?• Dolphins are extraordinarily intelligent animals who also display culture, something which

was long-believed to be unique to humans (although now recognized in various species)

• Dolphins have several highly developed forms of communication. They have a “signature whistle” which allows other individuals to recognize them

• Dolphins are incredibly social animals. They live in groups and cooperate with each other to get food and in raising offspring (calves)

• Dolphins use echolocation to find food and navigate. This is a natural version of radar.

• The “killer whale”, or Orca, is actually a dolphin

Legal status: Dolphins are declared ‘Near Threatened’ by IUCN worldwide and included in

Schedule – I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in India.

Dolphin(Phylum: Chordata)

Dolphins are marine mammals closely related to whales. Dolphins are playful and intelligent animals often sighted swimming alongside small boats. Body is adapted to aquatic life. Mouth is beak like protruding appearance with small teeth. Skin is darker on upper side, smooth, without hairs. Forelimbs are converted into flippers. Single fin is present on dorsal side. Tail is horizontal.

Habitat: Open waters, creeks and coastal waters.

Food and feeding: Carnivorous. Feed on squids, small fishes and other marine animals.

Sousa chinensis – Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin

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Do you know?• The sound made by a porpoise is called as click

• The collective name for a group of Porpoise is referred as a Pod

• Their average life span is 10 – 12 years

Threats: Loss of feeding grounds, poaching, entanglement into fishing nets, boat strikes, low

reproduction rate are major threats to this species.

Legal status: Porpoise is protected under Schedule – I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in

India and is declared Vulnerable by IUCN globally.

Phocoena sp. - Porpoise

Porpoise(Phylum: Chordata)

Porpoises also called mereswine and are small cetaceans of the family Phocoenidae; they are related to whales and dolphins. They are distinct from dolphins, although the word “porpoise” has been used to refer to any small dolphin, especially by sailors and fishermen. The most obvious visible difference between the two groups is that porpoises have shorter beaks and flattened, spade-shaped teeth distinct from the conical teeth of dolphins. They are smallest of the marine mammal.

Habitat: The common habitat is in oceans, shallow waters and estuaries.

Food and feeding habits: The diet of Porpoise consist of fish, shrimp, prawns, octopus and squid.

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Dugong(Phylum: Chordata)

Dugong is a mammal, i.e., air breathing animal, exclusively marine like dolphins and whales, but is closely related to elephants on the land. Dugong, popularly known as Sea-cows and Suver Machchhi / Bai Manas among fishers in Gujarat State.

The dugong’s body is large with a cylindrical shape that tapers at both ends. It has thick, smooth skin that is a pale cream colour at birth, but darkens dorsally and laterally to brownish-to-dark-grey with age. The colour of a dugong can change due to the growth of algae on the skin. The body is sparsely covered in short hair, most developed around the mouth. Mouth is downward, which has a large horseshoe shaped upper lip forming a highly mobile which aids the dugong in foraging. Eyes are small and located at height on upper side of mouth. Forelimb are adapted into flippers, rear limbs are absent. Tail is horizontal.

Habitat: Dugong lives in warmer shallow coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific Ocean

Food and feeding habits: Unlike other marine mammals, dugongs are purely herbivores. They feed exclusively on sea grass.

Dugong dugon - Sea cow

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Do you know?• Although the dugong can be found widely throughout the Indo-Pacific tropics, the

highest population of the dugong is concentrated around northern Australia

• It is thought the legends of mermaids may have originated when sailors from a distance

glimpsed dugongs swimming in the water, and mistook them for half-human half-fish

creatures. These mermaid legends are also said to be true of the dugongs larger cousin, the

manatee

Threats: Loss of feeding grounds, poaching, entanglement into fishing nets, boat strikes, low

reproduction rate are major threats to this species. Dugong’s population is declining

worldwide.

Legal status: Dugong is protected under Schedule – I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in India and is

declared Vulnerable by IUCN globally.

Dugongs have been observed in the MNP area near Okha, Poshitra and Mithapur. According to a study by GEER Foundation, in 2008, about 12-15 dugongs have been estimated in the waters of Gulf of Kuchchh/Arabian Sea in Gujarat state.

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FLORAIn marine ecosystem, phytoplankton, algae, sea grasses and mangroves and their associates are the primary producers like vegetation on terrestrial ecosystem. They transform the solar energy into organic nutrient compounds (food). The micro vegetation, phytoplankton, constitute food for many herbivore animals living in open waters, whereas, marine algae dominate the intertidal area. The areas near the high tide line are observed to bear the growth of mangroves and their associates. All this vegetation is crucial in many ways. This vegetation is not only the source of food but also provides shelter to many of the marine life.

Marine AlgaeMarine Algae are macro plants growing in marine environment. Marine algae are also known as seaweeds. They form the main vegetation on reef. The algae are classified in three main group, viz., Green algae, Brown algae and Red algae. The algae not only serve as the main primary producers, but they are also effective indicator to assess any change in the biotic community or environment as a whole. Following are few prominent marine algae found in Marine National Park.

Do you know?• Marine algae are rich source of many useful medicines. Bio-fuels have successfully been

extracted from marine algae. Thus, marine algae are potential source of our future energy requirements.

• Seaweed is part of many world cuisines. It’s well-known that in Japan, seaweed is used in soups and salads, as well as to wrap sushi.

• Seaweed has many health benefits, as it is rich in calcium, magnesium and iodine

• Agar and other gelatinous substances are extracted from seaweed. Agar is used as a culture medium in microbiology. The other gelatinous substances are used in dyes, gels and adhesives.

• Not all seaweeds have positive uses, and some even cause major problems. Aggressive varieties like Kappaphycus can invade extended areas of ocean, choking out native varieties of Coral and seaweeds.

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SargassumSargassum is a member of brown algae group. This seaweed may grow to a length of several meters. It is generally brown or dark green in color and consists of a holdfast, a stipe, and a frond. It has berrylike gas-filled bladders which help keep the fronds afloat to promote photosynthesis. Many have a rough sticky texture, which together with a robust but flexible body, helps it withstand strong water currents. The thick masses of sargassum provide an environment for a distinctive and specialized group of marine animals and plants.

Padina tetrastromatica (Funnel weed)Padina tetrastromatica is brown alga. It appears like small turfs of spherical brown leaves with distinct four lobs. It is very common in reef flats.

Ulva sp. (Sea lettuce)Ulva lactuca is a thin, translucent and flat green alga growing from a discoid holdfast. The margin is somewhat ruffled and often torn. It may reach 18 cm or more in length, though generally much less, and up to 30 cm across. It grows attached, without a stipe, to rock by a small disc-shaped holdfast. Green to dark green in colour. There are other species of Ulva which are similar and not always easy to differentiate.

Sargassum sp.

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Padina tetrastromatica - Funnel Weed Ulva Lactuca – Sea Lettuce

Botryocladia leptopoda Caulerpa racemosa - Sea Grapes

Caulerpa sp. - Feather Weed Gracilaria corticata

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Caulerpa racemosa (Sea grapes)Caulerpa racemosa is a species of green alga. It is commonly known as sea grapes and is found in many areas of shallow sea around the world. Plant consists of a number of branches linked to stolons which are anchored to the sandy substrate by rhizoids. The branches are a few centimeters apart and can grow to a height of 30 centimeters (12 in). Many spherical or ovate side-shoots branch off these and give the seaweed its name of sea grapes.

Botrycladia leptopodaBotrycladia leptopoda is a species of red alga. Similar to Caulerpa (Sea grapes)

Gracilaria corticataGracilaria corticata is a member of red alga group. Thick, flattened, red turf bifurcated at tips.

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SeagrassesSeagrasses are aquatic flowering plants which grow in saline waters. Their leaves are long and narrow like grasses, hence, given the name. Seagrasses play very important role in marine ecosystems. They form large portion of primary production. About 15% of carbon dissolved into the ocean is stored by seagrasses through photosynthesis process and produce oxygen. As a result, water in seagrass meadows remain more oxygenated. Large patches of seagrasses help in slowing down sea currents and accelerate sedimentation. Their intricate root system stabilizes seabeds by bounding loose sediments. Seagrass meadows are the only the food source to many endangered species like dugong and green sea turtles, they provide excellent habitat to many herbivoures species including large amount of fishes.

In Marine National Park, following five species of sea grasses are encountered in intertidal areas. These are Halophila beccarii, Halodule uninervis, Halophila ovalis, Thalassia hemprichii and Zostrea marina.

Do you know?• The only endangered marine plant is a species of sea grass (Halophila johnsonii in Florida)

• Sea grass produces the longest pollen grains on the planet.

• The deepest growing seagrass, 190 feet (58 meters), is in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia (Halophila decipiens)

• They stabilize sediments, and improve water quality by filtering pollutants from water bodies.

• They are flowering plants that live underwater.

• Absorbs 6.4 pounds (2.9 kg) of nutrients per year, equivalent to the treated effluent from 490 people.

• Sequesters 7,401 pounds of carbon per year (83 g carbon per square meter per year), equivalent to the CO2 emissions from an automobile traveling 3,860 miles (6,212 km).

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Halophila ovalis

Halophila beccarii

Zostrea marina

Halodule uninervis

Thalassia hemprichii

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MangrovesMangroves are salt tolerant plants that grow on swampy clay, muddy and saline substratum in intertidal areas and estuaries. The whole coastline of the Gulf of Kachchh is fringed with sparse to luxuriant growths of mangroves mainly Avicennia, Rhizophora and Ceriops spp. The mangroves show remarkable ability to live in saline and intertidal areas where very few other tree species can grow. The striking feature about the mangroves is the presence of aerial or prop roots which act as a support system and for respiration. The slushy, muddy mangrove marshes with high degree of dissolved oxygen provide a paradise for marine creatures.

The six species of mangroves occurring in Marine National park are Avicennia marina, Avicennia alba, Avicennia officinalis, Rhizophora mucronata, Ceriops tagal and Aegiceros spp. These species of mangroves grow above the surface of muddy marshes by prop roots growing from its trunk and branches. The intricate root system and higher humus content make it ideal place for feeding and nursery. Moreover, many species of birds use these mangrove forests for roosting and nesting. Mangroves also help in containing coastal erosion. The dense mangroves fringing coasts are boon to nearby agriculturalist as they protect their crop fields from the harsh salty winds and salinity ingress. Following is brief description of mangroves found in Marine National Park, Jamnagar.

Luxuriant growth of mangroves in Marine National Park and Sanctuary

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Local name: Pat Cheradi Shape: tree, height up to 15 m

Roots: pneumatophores, pencil-like

Leaf: Simple/oppositely arranged, several times longer than wide, broadest toward the base and tapering to apex, pointed at tip, 10-18 cm long, lower surface silver gray or white, leaves have salt glands.

Bark: Gray to black, like shark skin

Flowering: March - June

Fruiting: August - October

Similar species: A. officinalis, A. marina

Avicennia alba

Local name: Chavariyo

Shape: Tree/shrub

Roots: No prominent aerial roots

Leaf: Simple, alternately arranged, egg shaped, connected at narrow end, rounded at tip, 5-10 cm long, with salt glands

Bark: Smooth, reddish brown

Flowering-Fruiting: May - JunAegiceras corniculatum

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Local name: Khari Cher

Shape: Tree/shrub, height up to 12 m

Roots: pneumatophores, pencil-like

Leaf: Simple/oppositely arranged, broadest at the middle, both ends rather equal, the length is at least twice the width, pointed at tip (sometimes rounded), lower surface white to light gray, 5-11 cm long and leaves have salt glands.

Bark: Smooth, gray, green mottled (peeling in patches)

Flowering: Mainly August – February

Fruiting: Mainly November – March (monsoon)

Similar species: A. officinalis, A. alba

Avicennia marina

Local name: Mithi Cher


Roots: pneumatophores, pencil-like, sometimes stilt-like roots.

Leaf: Simple/oppositely arranged, egg shaped, connected at narrow end, rounded at tip, 8-11 cm long, young leaves hairy, leaves have salt glands.

Bark: Smooth, gray to brown

Flowering: March - June

Fruiting: August - October

Similar species: A. marina, A. alba

Avicennia officinalis

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Local name: Karod

Shape: Tree, height up to 25 m

Roots: Stilt-roots

Leaf: Simple/oppositely arranged, broadest at the middle, both ends rather equal, the length is at least twice the width, tip has abrupt tooth-like end, 15- 20 cm long

Bark: Rough gray to black, tessellated

Flowering: Throughout the year (mainly August to December)

Fruiting: May – June.

Rhizophora mucronata

Local name: Kunnari


Roots: Buttress originating stilt- like root, sometimes develop knee-root or knobby pneumatophores

Leaf: Simple/oppositely arranged, egg shaped, connected at narrow end, rounded at tip, 4-10 cm long

Bark: Gray (occasionally brown), stem smooth, flaky at base

Flowering: December - January

Fruiting: February-April

Ceriops tagal

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Do you know?• Mangroves are unique because unlike other trees, they can tolerate saltwater. This means

they can grow near, or even in, marine water.

• Nitrogen and phosphorous are two of the key elements needed for mangrove trees to be able to grow

• Early Spanish settlers in the New World used the salty leaves of mangrove trees to flavor their foods. Later, settlers ground up mangrove bark and used it to brew medicinal teas.

• The flowers of black and white mangrove trees produce nectar that can be used to make honey

• Mangrove trees have both male and female flower on the same tree, and pollinate and reproduce on their own.

• In the temple town of Chidambaram, near Pichavaram, Tamil Nadu, the ‘Thillai’ tree (Excoecaria agallocha), a type of mangrove is believed to have active chemical that cure leprosy.

• Mangroves are very leafy, that takes in lot of carbon-di-oxide from the atmosphere to make biomass. This reduces the amount of carbon-di-oxide in the atmosphere.

• The increasing human population is exerting tremendous stress on the mangroves, with land reclamations and discharge of waste causing their degradation.

• Mangrove deforestation is contributing to decline in fisheries, degradation of clean water supplies, increasing salinity of coastal soils, erosion and land subsidence.

• Mangroves have been included in CRZ 1 area for affording then protection.

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Mangrove AssociatesSalvadoraSalvadora persica, locally known as Pilu, is a small tree or shrub with a crooked trunk. Its bark is scabrous and cracked, whitish with pendulous extremities. The root bark of the tree is similar to sand, and the inner surfaces are an even lighter shade of brown. It has a pleasant fragrance, as well as a warm and pungent taste. It sheds its leaves from late December to January. The leaves break with a fine crisp crackle when the foot falls over them.

Habitat: Coasts with saline lands.

Usages: Salvadora has many medicinal and industrial values. Popularly used as chewing sticks (miswak).

SuaedaSuaeda sp. is another major mangrove associate in Marine National Park. It grows tall and creates bushes. It has industrial value.

SalicorniaSalicornia indica is perennial herb growing up to 70 cm high. It is salt tolerant plant that grows along beaches and salinity affected areas. It is succulent plant. The leaves are small and scale-like and as such the plant may appear leafless. It has got many industrial values.

Salvadora persica - Pilu

Suaeda sp. – Pickle weed

Salicornia sp. - Pickle weed

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Do you know?• Animals can hide from predators in marsh vegetation, because the shallow brackish area

physically excludes larger fish

• As salt marsh plants die and decompose, they create organic detritus, another food source for many marsh dwellers.

• They trap and bind sediment aiding in the process of land making

• They play major role in hydrologic support – water quality and maintenance of ground water.

• Salt marshes are farmed as grazing leases for cattle production.

ReferencesKamboj, R. D., Bhalodi, M. M. and Dave, C. S., 2013. Conspicous Marine Biodiversity of Marine National Park, Jamnagar, India.

Lieske, E. and Myers, R. F., 2004. Colins Coral Reef Guide Red Sea to Gulf of Aden, South Oman. First ed. Harper Collins, London.

Subburaman, S., Adhavan, D., Gowtham, S., Joshi, D. and Kamboj, R. D., 2013. Checklist of Opisthobranchfaunas at Mithapur reef, Gulf of Kachchh. Asian Journal of Marine Science. 1(1): 39-42.

Venkataraman, K., Raghunathan, C., Raghuraman and Sreeraj, C. R., 2012. Marine Biodiversity in India. Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India.

Yogesh Kumar, J. S., Marimuthu, N., Geetha, S., Satyanarayana, Ch., Venkataraman, K. and Kamboj, R. D., 2014. Longitudinal variations of coral reef features in the Marine National Park, Gulf of Kachchh. J. Coast. Conserv.

The Identification Manual for Important Marine Biodiversity of Marine National Park, Gulf of Kachchh

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