A NOTE ON THE OCCURRENCE OF STERNASPIS SCUTATA (RENIER 1807) A STERNASPID POLYCHAETE FROM SUNDARBAN MANGROVES, WEST BENGAL, INDIA

摘要

Sternaspis scutata belongs to Phylum Annelida, Order Canalipalpata and Class Polychaeta. Members of Family Sternaspidae were first recognised in the 16th century and formally described in the late 1810s (Ranzani 1817). They are commonly called Mud Owls because their large, stiff, ventral shield resembles two large eyes and the plump, peanut-shaped body completes the resemblance. Sternaspids are mostly shallow water forms, and a few deepwater forms also occur in the estuarine and mangrove environments. A total of 640 no./sq. m of the polychaete Sternaspis scutata were recorded by the authors in the core area of Sundarban mangrove region during June 2012.