Occurrence and distribution of the planktonic shrimps of the genus Lucifer in the EEZ of India

Abstract

The distribution and abundance of decapod shrimps of the family Luciferidae De Haan, 1849 under the super family Sergestoidea Dana, 1852 in the Exclusive Economic Zone of India were studied based on 918 zooplankton samples collected during 37 cruises of FORV Sugar Sampada. All the seven species recorded elsewhere in the world namely, L. @pus H. Milne Edwards, L. hnnseni Nobili, L. penicillifer Hansen, L. faxoni Borradaile, L. chacei Bowman, L, intermedius Hansen and L. orientalis Hansen have been found to occur in the Indian EEZ of which the last three are new records. L. penicillifer is the predominant species in the eastern Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal and L. typus in the island ecosystems of Lakshadweep and Andaman- Nicobar. The neretic region of the Indian EEZ up to 50 m depth supports 51% of these shrimps, the mid-shelf between 50 and lOOm harbours 29%, whereas 12% occur in the outer shelf (100 and 200m) and 8% in the deep zone (>200 m). The presence of L.penicillifer in the eastern Arabian Sea and L.hanseni in the Lakshadweep waters is reported for the first time. Matrix of correlation revealed the highest co-occurrence of these shrimps in the Andaman-Nicobar waters wherein six of the Lucifer species co-exist. Diagnostic characters used in species identification are given and illustrated.