Mysids (Crustacea) from the salt pans of Mumbai, India, with a description of a new species

Abstract

The taxonomy, distribution and ecology of mysids collected from the salt pans of Mumbai, India, were studied. Two mysid species are represented, of which one species, Indomysis nybini, is described as new to science. The new species is distinguished from the related species by the presence of a distal suture in the antennal scale, lack of articulation on the exopod of the fourth male pleopod and the presence of spines on the endopod of the uropod. The new species, Indomysis nybini, is fairly common in Thane salt pan and its population density varied from 0 to 425 ind./m³. In Bhayander salt pan the mysids Mesopodopsis orientalis and Indomysis nybini were both present but never coexisted. In terms of mysid population density, Bhayander (ave. 79 ind./m³) was more productive than Thane (ave. 14 ind./m³).

Keywords:

• Crustacea
• ecology
• India
• mysid
• salt pan
• taxonomy

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Director, National Institute of Oceanography, Goa and to the Scientist-in-Charge, Regional Centre, NIO, Kochi for the encouragement and facilities provided. Thanks are due to the Scientist-in-Charge, NIO, Mumbai for providing the study material. This is NIO Contribution No. 4667.

Notes

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark