POLYCHAETES OF RAJAKKAMANGALAM, SOUTH WEST COAST OF INDIA

The polychaetes are one of the most common aquatic organisms found living in the depths of the ocean, floating free near the water surface and burrowing in the mud and sand of the beach, estuaries and backwater. In the present study a survey on the macrobenthic polychaete was carried out in 3 areas of Rajakkamangalam, where the riverlet "Pantiyar" joins the southern end of Arabian Sea. A total of 20 species belonging to 18 genera and 13 families were recorded from the study area for the first time.