Marine wood boring molluscs of the Lakshadweep archipelago

Abstract

Some aspects of the ecology of nineteen species of pholadacean bivalves, 16 belonging to the family Teredinidae and 3 to the family Pholadidae in the Lakshadweep Sea are reported. Notes on biofouling, associated fauna of shipworms, crustacean wood borers, nature of the biodeterioration of vessels and the destruction of submerged stationary wooden objects are presented. Dominant species highly destructive in the Lakshadweep Sea are <i>Teredo fulleri</i>, <i>T. clappi</i> and <i>Lyrodus massa</i>. Species such as <i>Teredora palauensis, Teredo aegypos, T. somersi</i> and <i>Pholas chiloensis</i> are new records for Indian waters and <i>Teredo triangularis, T. fulleri, Uperotus clavus</i> and <i>U. rehderi</i> are reported for the first time from the Arabian Sea territorial waters of India.