Some animal associates of the zoanthids, Palythoa mutuki (Haddon & Shackeleton, 1891) and Zoanthus sansibaricus (Carlgen, 1990) along rocky shores of Visakhapatnam, India – A check list

Abstract

Animal associates of zoanthids- Palythoa mutuki and Zoanthus sansibaricus of Lawson’s Bay rocky shores of Visakhapatnam were recorded in the present study. P. mutuki and Z. sansibaricus were found distributed along the upper mid-littoral zone of the rocky shores, 21 species and four larval forms belonging to five Phyla (Porifera, Annelida, Arthropod, Mollusca and Echinodermata) were recorded. The diversity of organisms associated with P. mutuki was more than with Z. sansibaricus.