Records of the Zoological Survey of India - A Journal of Indian Zoology

P. T. Rajan ¹, C. R. Sreeraj ¹

Affiliations
1 Zoological Survey of India, Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, Port Blair-744102, IN

Abstract

Andaman Nicobar Islands situated in the Bay of Bengal between 6°45´-13 45´N and 92°10´-94°15´E, consist of 352 islands 220 islets and rock and cover a distance of almost 470 km over North South, with a coastline of 1962 km, and bring in for India an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 600 thousand sq km. The coast is under the influence of a diverse set of oceanographical and ecological conditions. The shelf topography of these islands show frequent rises supporting coral reefs, which are characterized as fringing reefs on the eastern side and barrier reefs off west coast; the depressions are known as passages and straits. Besides coral reefs, the shore is composed of rocky and sandy areas and vast stretches of Mangrove swamps, also few freshwater rivers and streams. A comprehensive and authoritative account of fishes of the Indian region including Andaman and Nicobar Islands was published by Francis Day (1870, 1875-78 and 1888). Herre (1941) listed 490 species of fishes. Talwar (1990) prepared a comprehensive list of fishes consisting of 724 species, followed by a supplementary list by Kamla Devi (1991) containing 71 species of fish. The recent developments in the fish taxonomy of these Islands are the works by Kamla Devi and Rajan (1991), Mishra and Krishnan (1992), Krishnan and Mishra (1992), Dhandapani and Misra (1993), Rajan (2001 a, 2001b, 2003, 2009), Rajan et al. (1992, 1993a, 1993b, 2012), Kamla Devi et al. (1993), Kamla Devi and Rao (1997, 2003a, 2003b, 2007), Rao et al. (1992, 1992a, 1992b, 1994, 1993a, 1993b, 1997, 2000), Rao (2003, 2009), Rao and Kamla Devi (1996, 1997a, 1997b, 1998, 2004), Soundararajan and Dam Roy (2004), Remadevi et al. (2010) Rajaram et al. (2007), Ramakrishna et al., 2010. Smith-Vaniz, 2011, Smith-Vaniz & Allen (2012) and Rajan and Sreeraj (2014).

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P. T. Rajan ¹, C. R. Sreeraj ¹

Affiliations
1 Zoological Survey of India, Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, Port Blair-744102, IN

Abstract

Andaman Nicobar Islands situated in the Bay of Bengal between 6° 45´ -13 45´ N and 92° 10´ – 94° 15´ E consist of 352 islands 220 islets and rock. It covers a distance of almost 470 km over North South, with a coastline of 1962 km, and brings in for India an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 600 thousand sq km. The coast is under the influence of a diverse set of oceanographic and ecological conditions.

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P. T. Rajan ¹, C. R. Sreeraj ¹

Affiliations
1 Zoological Survey of India Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre Haddo, Port Blair, IN

Abstract

Mount Harriet National Park is lies between 10°43’57N latitudes and 92°43’41 to 92°47’11E longitudes. The area of park is about 46.62 km2 (Fig. 1). The park possesses various hill ranges, which generally lie in the north and south direction of islands. From these, numerous spurs and ridges branch out in east and west directions. The hills are steeper on the east than on west. The principal peaks are Mt. Koyob (460m, the highest peak of N.P), Mt. Hext. (424m), Mt. Harriett (422m), Mt. Godridge (377m) and Mt. Carpenter (373m). The beaches on eastern coast are generally rocky with a few sandy patches.

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P. T. Rajan ¹, C. R. Sreeraj ¹

Affiliations
1 Zoological Survey of India, Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, Haddo, Port Blair, IN

Abstract

Mount Harriet national park lies between 10°43'57"N latitudes and 92°43'41" to 92°47'11" E longitudes. The area of park is about 46.62 km2 and there is also a proposal to extend the area by another 1700 hectares to include the adjacent hill ranges on Southern part and to conserve the marine ecosystem along the Eastern coast (Fig. 1). The park possesses various hill ranges, which generally lie in the north and south direction as islands. From these, numerous spurs and ridges branch out in east and west directions. The hills are steeper on the east than on west. The principal peaks are Mt. Koyob (460m, the highest peak of N.P), Mt. Hext. (424m), Mt. Harriett (422m), Mt. Godridge (377m) and Mt. Carpenter (373m).

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P. T. Rajan ¹, C. R. Sreeraj ¹

Affiliations
1 Zoological Survey of India, Andaman Nicobar Regional Centre, Haddo, Port Blair-744102, IN

Abstract

Fusiliers are tropical Indo-Pacific marine perciform fish of the family Caesionidae and they are most associated with the reefs. Within the family there are 4 genera and 21 species (Carpenter, 1988 and Allen & Erdmann, 2008). They are colourful fishes; many have bright yellow stripes and patches. The caesionidae are related to the family Lutjanidae, the snapper fishes . The fusiliers posses s unique morphological features characteristic of their feeding mode. They are specialized for planktivorous feeding, while their nearest relatives, the snappers are typically benthic carnivores. The fusiliers possess a jaw morphology and body shape.

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