Speciesof Pearlfish
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Early Stages of Fishes in the Western North Atlantic Ocean Volume
ISBN 0-9689167-4-x Early Stages of Fishes in the Western North Atlantic Ocean (Davis Strait, Southern Greenland and Flemish Cap to Cape Hatteras) Volume One Acipenseriformes through Syngnathiformes Michael P. Fahay ii Early Stages of Fishes in the Western North Atlantic Ocean iii Dedication This monograph is dedicated to those highly skilled larval fish illustrators whose talents and efforts have greatly facilitated the study of fish ontogeny. The works of many of those fine illustrators grace these pages. iv Early Stages of Fishes in the Western North Atlantic Ocean v Preface The contents of this monograph are a revision and update of an earlier atlas describing the eggs and larvae of western Atlantic marine fishes occurring between the Scotian Shelf and Cape Hatteras, North Carolina (Fahay, 1983). The three-fold increase in the total num- ber of species covered in the current compilation is the result of both a larger study area and a recent increase in published ontogenetic studies of fishes by many authors and students of the morphology of early stages of marine fishes. It is a tribute to the efforts of those authors that the ontogeny of greater than 70% of species known from the western North Atlantic Ocean is now well described. Michael Fahay 241 Sabino Road West Bath, Maine 04530 U.S.A. vi Acknowledgements I greatly appreciate the help provided by a number of very knowledgeable friends and colleagues dur- ing the preparation of this monograph. Jon Hare undertook a painstakingly critical review of the entire monograph, corrected omissions, inconsistencies, and errors of fact, and made suggestions which markedly improved its organization and presentation. -
Cusk Eels, Brotulas [=Cherublemma Trotter [E
FAMILY Ophidiidae Rafinesque, 1810 - cusk eels SUBFAMILY Ophidiinae Rafinesque, 1810 - cusk eels [=Ofidini, Otophidioidei, Lepophidiinae, Genypterinae] Notes: Ofidini Rafinesque, 1810b:38 [ref. 3595] (ordine) Ophidion [as Ophidium; latinized to Ophididae by Bonaparte 1831:162, 184 [ref. 4978] (family); stem corrected to Ophidi- by Lowe 1843:92 [ref. 2832], confirmed by Günther 1862a:317, 370 [ref. 1969], by Gill 1872:3 [ref. 26254] and by Carus 1893:578 [ref. 17975]; considered valid with this authorship by Gill 1893b:136 [ref. 26255], by Goode & Bean 1896:345 [ref. 1848], by Nolf 1985:64 [ref. 32698], by Patterson 1993:636 [ref. 32940] and by Sheiko 2013:63 [ref. 32944] Article 11.7.2; family name sometimes seen as Ophidionidae] Otophidioidei Garman, 1899:390 [ref. 1540] (no family-group name) Lepophidiinae Robins, 1961:218 [ref. 3785] (subfamily) Lepophidium Genypterinae Lea, 1980 (subfamily) Genypterus [in unpublished dissertation: Systematics and zoogeography of cusk-eels of the family Ophidiidae, subfamily Ophidiinae, from the eastern Pacific Ocean, University of Miami, not available] GENUS Cherublemma Trotter, 1926 - cusk eels, brotulas [=Cherublemma Trotter [E. S.], 1926:119, Brotuloides Robins [C. R.], 1961:214] Notes: [ref. 4466]. Neut. Cherublemma lelepris Trotter, 1926. Type by monotypy. •Valid as Cherublemma Trotter, 1926 -- (Pequeño 1989:48 [ref. 14125], Robins in Nielsen et al. 1999:27, 28 [ref. 24448], Castellanos-Galindo et al. 2006:205 [ref. 28944]). Current status: Valid as Cherublemma Trotter, 1926. Ophidiidae: Ophidiinae. (Brotuloides) [ref. 3785]. Masc. Leptophidium emmelas Gilbert, 1890. Type by original designation (also monotypic). •Synonym of Cherublemma Trotter, 1926 -- (Castro-Aguirre et al. 1993:80 [ref. 21807] based on placement of type species, Robins in Nielsen et al. -
SPC Beche-De-Mer Information Bulletin #34 – May 2014
38 SPC Beche-de-mer Information Bulletin #34 – May 2014 Parastichopus regalis — The main host of Carapus acus in temperate waters of the Mediterranean Sea and northeastern Atlantic Ocean Mercedes González-Wangüemert1,*, Camilla Maggi2, Sara Valente1, Jose Martínez-Garrido1 and Nuno Vasco Rodrigues3 Abstract Pearlfish, Carapus acus, live in association with several species of sea cucumbers. Its occurrence in hosts is largely dependent on host availability and its distribution from potential larval areas. The occurrence of Carapus acus in six sea cucumbers species from the Mediterranean Sea and northeastern Atlantic Ocean was assessed. The sea cucumber species Parastichopus regalis was the only host detected. Pearlfish from southeastern Spain (21 individuals) ranged in length from 7.0 cm to 21.5 cm. Two sea cucumbers from the area around Valencia harboured two adult fish each. These pairs of pearlfish, which were sampled during the summer, were able to breed inside of P. regalis, an event already noted by other authors. Pearlfish do not seem to choose their host according its size, as the correlation between fish length and host weight was not significant. Introduction Carapus acus (Brünnich, 1768) is a species recorded throughout the Mediterranean Sea and the Symbiosis, the close relationship between west coast of North Africa in depths of 1–150 m organisms of different species, can occur in (Nielsen et al. 1999). It is common in the western the marine environment and, in relation to the Mediterranean Sea, mainly around Italy, Spain and species involved, can take place in various forms, France, and also occurs in the Adriatic and Aegean such as mutualism, commensalism or parasitism seas. -
History of Fishes - Structural Patterns and Trends in Diversification
History of fishes - Structural Patterns and Trends in Diversification AGNATHANS = Jawless • Class – Pteraspidomorphi • Class – Myxini?? (living) • Class – Cephalaspidomorphi – Osteostraci – Anaspidiformes – Petromyzontiformes (living) Major Groups of Agnathans • 1. Osteostracida 2. Anaspida 3. Pteraspidomorphida • Hagfish and Lamprey = traditionally together in cyclostomata Jaws = GNATHOSTOMES • Gnathostomes: the jawed fishes -good evidence for gnathostome monophyly. • 4 major groups of jawed vertebrates: Extinct Acanthodii and Placodermi (know) Living Chondrichthyes and Osteichthyes • Living Chondrichthyans - usually divided into Selachii or Elasmobranchi (sharks and rays) and Holocephali (chimeroids). • • Living Osteichthyans commonly regarded as forming two major groups ‑ – Actinopterygii – Ray finned fish – Sarcopterygii (coelacanths, lungfish, Tetrapods). • SARCOPTERYGII = Coelacanths + (Dipnoi = Lung-fish) + Rhipidistian (Osteolepimorphi) = Tetrapod Ancestors (Eusthenopteron) Close to tetrapods Lungfish - Dipnoi • Three genera, Africa+Australian+South American ACTINOPTERYGII Bichirs – Cladistia = POLYPTERIFORMES Notable exception = Cladistia – Polypterus (bichirs) - Represented by 10 FW species - tropical Africa and one species - Erpetoichthys calabaricus – reedfish. Highly aberrant Cladistia - numerous uniquely derived features – long, independent evolution: – Strange dorsal finlets, Series spiracular ossicles, Peculiar urohyal bone and parasphenoid • But retain # primitive Actinopterygian features = heavy ganoid scales (external -
Pearlfish Carapus Bermudensis from the Sea Cucumber Holothuria Mexicana in Belize (Central America)
SPC Beche-de-mer Information Bulletin #38 – March 2018 73 Pearlfish Carapus bermudensis from the sea cucumber Holothuria mexicana in Belize (Central America) Arlenie Rogers1,*, Jean-François Hamel2 and Annie Mercier3 Pearlfish (Carapidae) are specialised fishes that mainly live in the respiratory tree of sea cucumber hosts (Arnold 1956; Shen and Yeh 1987; Smith and Tyler 1969; Smith 1964) in a relationship that has generally been defined as commensalism (Parmentier et al. 2003; Van Den Spiegel and Jangoux 1989; Parmentier et al. 2016). However, some species such as Encheliophis spp. are known to feed off their host’s gonad (Murdy and Cowan 1980; Parmentier et al. 2003; Pamentier and Vandewalle 2005; Parmentier et al. 2016). The present article highlights the occurrence of and from the Range (16˚05.616’N: 88˚42.827’W) on the pearlfish Carapus bermudensis (Figure 1) inside 12 February 2012 at a depth of 7.6 m. The latter the sea cucumber Holothuria mexicana in Belize. two sites consisted of seagrass (Thalassia testudi- Adults of H. mexicana were collected from Buggle num), sand and coral rubble and were within the Caye (16˚28.377’ N: 88˚21.77’W) on 14 July 2015 at Port Honduras Marine Reserve, while the former a depth 1.2 m; at Frenchman Caye (16˚06.347’N: site consisted of patch coral, sand and T. testudi- 88˚33.702’W) on 9 June 2014 at a depth of 10.7 m; num (Figure 1). Figure 1. Locations where sea cucumbers (H. mexicana) hosting the pearlfish C. bermudensis were found. -
Effects of Habitat Complexity on Caribbean Marine Fish Assemblages
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES Vol. 292: 301–310, 2005 Published May 12 Mar Ecol Prog Ser Effects of habitat complexity on Caribbean marine fish assemblages Brian Gratwicke1, 2,*, Martin R. Speight1 1Department of Zoology, Oxford University, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3JA, UK 2Present address: The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, 1120 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20036, USA ABSTRACT: Sets of artificial reefs were replicated in 5 bays off Tortola in the British Virgin Islands to investigate the effects of habitat complexity on fish assemblages. Increasing percentage hard sub- strate and the number of small reef holes increased fish abundance on reefs. The observed number of species (Sobs) occurring on each reef increased with increasing rugosity, variety of growth forms, percentage hard substrate, and variety of refuge hole sizes. A rarefied or abundance-corrected spe- cies richness measure (Srare) was calculated to take the varying fish abundances into account. After this correction, rugosity was the only variable that significantly increased fish species-richness. Experimental reefs of different height (20 and 60 cm) did not have significantly different fish abun- dance or species richness. The presence of long-spined sea urchins Diadema antillarum increased Sobs and total fish abundance on artificial rock-reefs and in seagrass beds, but the effect was most pronounced in seagrass beds where shelter was a strongly limiting factor. These results indicate that complex habitats or animals such as D. antillarum that provide shelter to fish are essential for main- taining fish biodiversity at local scales. The most important aspects of complexity are rugosity, hard substrate and small refuge holes. -
Morphological Adaptations of Pearlfish (Carapidae) to Their Various Habitats
11 Morphological Adaptations of Pearlfish (Carapidae) to their various Habitats Eric Parmentier and Pierre Vandewaiie Eric Parmentier Laboratory of Functional and Evolutionary Morphology, Institut de Chimie, Bat. B6, Université de Liège, B-4000 Sart-Tilman, Liège, Belgium e-mail: [email protected] INTRODUCTION One of the most stunning aspects of the living world is the diversity of organism adaptations to a multitude of situations, often unexpected. Coral environments present a remarkable biodiversity in which there are numerous examples of associations among animals. Among those involving a fish and an invertebrate host, the anemonefish ( Amphiprion sp., Pomacentridae) is doubtless the most well known (e.g., Mader, 1987; Bauchot, 1992; Elliott and Mariscal, 1996) although some Hexagrammidae can also have the same kind of association (Elliott, 1992). These fish are capable of seeking refuge between the sea anemone's tentacles without being attacked by nematocysts. Depending on the species involved, these relationships can be of commensal (Elliott, 1992; Mariscal, 1996), mutual (Fautin, 1991; Godwin, 1992) or parasitic (Allen, 1972). Other fish use the mantle of certain bivalves as a shelter: Cyclopteridae Liparis inquilinus and Gadidae Urophyciss chuss in the scallop Planopecten magellanicus, Apogonidae Astrapogon alutus in the mesogasteropod Strombus pugilis (Able, 1973; Markle et al. 1982; Reed, 1992). Other fishes like Gobiidae live intimately in massive sponges (Tyler and Böhlke, 1972) whereas cer tain Gobiesocidae live in association with sea urchins (Dix, 1969; Schoppe and Werding, 1996; Patzner, 1999). Another remarkable example is that of a Carapidae fish (Para- canthopterygians, Ophidiiformes) known as the pearlfish. The origin of this name was the discovery of dead carapid fish, paralysed and completely covered in mother-of-pearl in the inner face of the bivalves of certain oysters (Ballard, 1991). -
Morphological Adaptations of Pearlfish (Carapidae) to Their Various Habitats
11 Morphological Adaptations of Pearlfish (Carapidae) to their various Habitats Eric Parmentier and Pierre Vandewalle Eric Parmentier Laboratory of Functional and Evolutionary Morphology, Institut de Chimie, Bat. B6, Université de Liège, B-4000 Sart-Tilman, Liège, Belgium e-mail: [email protected] INTRODUCTION One of the most stunning aspects of the living world is the diversity of organism adaptations to a multitude of situations, often unexpected. Coral environments present a remarkable biodiversity in which there are numerous examples of associations among animals. Among those involving a fish and an invertebrate host, the anemonefish (Amphiprion sp., Pomacentridae) is doubtless the most well known (e.g., Mader, 1987; Bauchot, 1992; Elliott and Mariscal, 1996) although some Hexagrammidae can also have the same kind of association (Elliott, 1992). These fish are capable of seeking refuge between the sea anemones tentacles without being attacked by nematocysts. Depending on the species involved, these relationships can be of commensal (Elliott, 1992; Mariscal, 1996), mutual (Fautin, 1991; Godwin, 1992) or parasitic (Allen, 1972). Other fish use the mantle of certain bivalves as a shelter: Cyclopteridae Liparis inquilinus and Gadidae Urophyciss chuss in the scallop Planopecten magellanicus, Apogonidae Astrapogon alutus in the mesogasteropod Strombus pugilis (Able, 1973; Markle et al. 1982; Reed, 1992). Other fishes like Gobiidae live intimately in massive sponges (Tyler and Böhlke, 1972) whereas cer- tain Gobiesocidae live in association with sea urchins (Dix, 1969; Schoppe and Werding, 1996; Patzner, 1999). Another remarkable example is that of a Carapidae fish (Para- canthopterygians, Ophidiiformes) known as the pearlfish. The origin of this name was the discovery of dead carapid fish, paralysed and completely covered in mother-of-pearl in the inner face of the bivalves of certain oysters (Ballard, 1991). -
From Commensalism to Parasitism in Carapidae (Ophidiiformes): Heterochronic Modes of Development? Eric Parmentier1, Déborah Lanterbecq2,3 and Igor Eeckhaut2
From commensalism to parasitism in Carapidae (Ophidiiformes): heterochronic modes of development? Eric Parmentier1, Déborah Lanterbecq2,3 and Igor Eeckhaut2 1 Laboratory of Functional & Evolutionary Morphology, AFFISH-RC, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium 2 Biology of Marine Organisms and Biomimetics, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium 3 Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et Biologie Appliquée, Haute Ecole Provinciale de Hainaut-Condorcet (& CARAH asbl), Ath, Belgium ABSTRACT Phenotypic variations allow a lineage to move into new regions of the adaptive landscape. The purpose of this study is to analyse the life history of the pearlfishes (Carapinae) in a phylogenetic framework and particularly to highlight the evolution of parasite and commensal ways of life. Furthermore, we investigate the skull anatomy of parasites and commensals and discuss the developmental process that would explain the passage from one form to the other. The genus Carapus forms a paraphyletic grouping in contrast to the genus Encheliophis, which forms a monophyletic cluster. The combination of phylogenetic, morphologic and ontogenetic data clearly indicates that parasitic species derive from commensal species and do not constitute an iterative evolution from free-living forms. Although the head morphology of Carapus species differs completely from Encheliophis, C. homei is the sister group of the parasites. Interestingly, morphological characteristics allowing the establishment of the relation between Carapus homei and Encheliophis spp. concern the sound-producing mecha- nism, which can explain the diversification of the taxon but not the acquisition of the parasite morphotype. Carapus homei already has the sound-producing mechanism typically found in the parasite form but still has a commensal way of life and the corresponding head structure. -
A Rare Occurrence of Matched Otoliths And
A RARE OCCURRENCE OF MATCHED OTOLITHS AND ASSOCIATED SKELETAL REMAINS OF APOGON TOWNSENDI (OSTEICHTHYES) FROM THE CALOOSAHATCHEE FORMATION (LOWER PLEISTOCENE) OF FLORIDA Gary L. Stringer1, Richard C. Hulbert Jr.2, Dirk Nolf3, Paul Roth4, and Roger W. Portell4 ABSTRACT A matched pair of otoliths (right and left saccular otoliths) and associated skeletal remains (n = 107) of Apogon townsendi (belted cardinalfish) were obtained in unconsolidated sediment from inside the valves of an articulated scallop Carolinapecten eboreus. The scallop specimen was collected in Hendry County, Florida, from the lower Pleistocene Caloosahatchee Formation, approximately 1.7 to 2.1 Ma. The recov- ery of this vertebrate material is highly significant because no skeletal remains of bony fish with in situ or associated otoliths are known from the Gulf or Atlantic coasts of the United States. Furthermore, the specimen represents the first fossil record of the family Apogonidae and the genus Apogon from Florida and the first report of the species Apogon townsendi in the fossil record. The length of the fossil Apogon townsendi was determined to be 4.7 cm based on the linear relationship between fish length and otolith length and utilizing modern specimens of the species for comparison and analysis. The length of the fossil Apogon townsendi indicated that it was an adult fish upon death (> 2.1 cm). Although several taphonomic scenarios are considered, including commensalism, it is believed that the apogonid died in close proximity to the empty scallop shell, which was followed by fairly rapid washing in of sediment with the fish into the valves of the scallop (i.e., sediment trapping). -
Observer Training Manual National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast
Characterization of the US Gulf of Mexico and Southeastern Atlantic Otter Trawl and Bottom Reef Fish Fisheries Observer Training Manual National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Fisheries Science Center Galveston Laboratory September 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS National Overview ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 1 Project Overview ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 8 Observer Program Guidelines and Safety ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 15 Observer Safety ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 15 Medical Fitness for Sea ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 15 Training ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 15 Before Deployment on Vessel ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 16 Seven Steps to Survival ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 18 Donning an Immersion Suit ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 20 Safety Aboard Vessels ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 22 Safety At‐Sea Transfers ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 23 Off‐Shore Communications ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 24 Advise to Women Going to Sea ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 27 Summary: What You Need to Know About Sea Survival ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 29 Deployment on Vessel -
Check List of Fishes of the Gulf of Mannar Ecosystem, Tamil Nadu, India
Available online at: www.mbai.org.in doi: 10.6024/jmbai.2016.58.1.1895-05 Check list of fishes of the Gulf of Mannar ecosystem, Tamil Nadu, India K. K. Joshi*, Miriam Paul Sreeram, P. U. Zacharia, E. M. Abdussamad, Molly Varghese, O. M. M. J. Mohammed Habeeb1, K. Jayabalan1, K. P. Kanthan1, K. Kannan1, K. M. Sreekumar, Gimy George and M. S. Varsha ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, P. B. No.1603, Kochi - 682 018, Kerala, India. 1Tuticorin Research Centre of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Tuticorin - 628 001, Tamil Nadu, India. *Correspondence e-mail: [email protected] Received: 10 Jan 2016, Accepted: 25 Jun 2016, Published: 30 Jun 2016 Original Article Abstract Introduction Gulf of Mannar Ecosystem (GOME) covers an area spread over Rameswaram and Kanyakumari for about 19000 km2 and lies between India is blessed with a vast region of coral reefs and 78°11’E and 79°15’ E longitude and 8°49’N and 9°15’N latitude. The mangroves and these regions support very rich fauna of flora 21 coral islands form a network of habitats for different kinds of fishes and constitute rich biodiversity of marine organisms. Gulf and marine organisms. Fish samples were collected during April 2005 of Mannar Ecosystem (GOME) covers an area spread over to March 2010 from different centers viz., Vembar, Tharuvaikulam, Rameswaram and Kanyakumari to about 19,000 km2. GOME Vellapatti, Therespuram, Tuticorin, Alangarathattu, Pazhaykayal, lies between 78°11’00” E and 79°15’00” E longitude and Punnakayal, Kayalpattinam, Veerapandiapattinam, Thiruchendur and 8°49’00” N and 9°15’00” N latitude.