A Note on Marine Mammals off the Maharashtra Coast

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Authors

  • Zoological Survey of India, Western Regional Centre, Akurdi, Pune 411 044 ,IN

Abstract

Marine Mammals (seals, whales and walruses) constitute 128 species in the world (Pompa et al., 2011), of which India has 31 species, comprising of 30 species of Cetacea and one species of Sirenia (Padmanaban and Dinesh, 2011). Wilson and Reeder (1993) have given an extensive account of Cetacea and Sirenia. According to Alfred et al.(1998) India has 29 species of Order Cetacea and 1 species of Order Sirenia out of the total of 390 species of mammals found in India. Maharashtra state has a coastline of 850 km on its western side and a marine wildlife sanctuary at Malvan in Sindhudurg district. A perusal of literature reveals that this State with its long coastline supports a considerable number of species of marine mammals.

Published

2012-06-01

Issue

Section

Short Communication

 

References

Alfred, J .R.B., Das, A. K. and Sanyal, A. K. 1998. Faunal diversity of India. Envis Centre, ZSI, Kolkata.

Padmanaban, P. and Dinesh, K. P. 2011. www.zsi.gov.in/checklist/Marine%20mammals%20of%20India.pdf

Pompa, S., Ehrlich, P. R. and Ceballo, G. 2011. Gloal distribution and conservation of marine mammals. PNAS. 108(33) : 13600-13605.

Sahasivam, K. 2004. Marine mammals of India. Universities Press (India) Private Limited.

Menon, V. 2003. Field guide to Indian mammals. DK, Delhi

Wilson, D. E. and Reeder, D. M. 1993. Mammal species of the world. 2nd edition. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington and London.