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Gulf of Mannar
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Name of the area
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Gulf of Mannar
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Place :
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Between Thoothukudi and Dhanuskodi
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State :
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:
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Tamilnadu
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Latitude :
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8°47’N and 9°15’N
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Longitude :
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78°12 ’E and 79°14 ’E
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Key Physical Characters
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Total reef area
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94.3 sq km
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Depth
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:
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2 to 9mts
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Transparency :
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:
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1 to 3m
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Water temperature:
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:
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25° to 30°c
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Chemical Characters
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pH :
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:
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7.6 to 8.4
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Salinity :
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32.4 to 32.8ppt
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Dissolved Oxygen :
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:
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4.5 to 4.9
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Major Flora and Fauna
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Benthic Fauna :
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Shrimp, lobster, crabs, seacucumber, mollusk, gastropods, polychaetes etc.,
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Name of the species - IUCN status |
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Sponges
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Heteronema erecta - Not avilabale
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Dentriela cactus - Not availabale
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Sigmadocia fibulata - Not Available
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Sigmadocia pumila - Not evaluated
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Echinodictyum clathrat um -Not evaluated
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Microciona aceratoobtusa - Not available
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Optulitaspongia rimosa - Threatened
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Phycopsis sp. - Not Evaluated
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Spirastrella coccinea -Not evaluated
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Cliona celiba - Not available
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Cliona orientalis - Not available
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(Source: Asir Ramesh Ph.D Thesis - 1996)
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Polychaeta
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Syllis sp.
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Nereis sp.
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Perinereis cultrifera
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Eseudo rereis gallapogensis
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Eunice atra atra
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Eunice antennae
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Salbellaria Pectinata
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Sabellaria spinulosa
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Serpula vermiularisis
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Hydroides minax
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(Source: Asir Ramesh Ph.D Thesis – 1996)
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Phytoplankton
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126 species of phytoplankton were reported (Kannan, 1996).
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Diatoms : 97 species (33 genera)
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Dinoflagellates : 16 species (6 genera)
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Blue-green algae : 7 species (5 genera)
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Green algae : 3 species (3 genera)
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Others : 3 species (3 genera)
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The population density varied from 34000 to 86000 cells / litre.
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Zooplankton
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360 species of zooplankton were reported (CMFRI, 1998).
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Planktonic and Larval forms
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Copepods 223
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Cumacea 10
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Amphipods 52
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Ostracods 57
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Isopods 18
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Decapod larvae 8
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Commercially Important Shell fishes
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Penaeid and non-penaeid shrimps, lobsters, crabs, cephalopods, bivalves and gastropods etc.,
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Commercially Important Fin Fishes
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441 species of fishes have been recorded, among these 200 species are commercial important including sardines, mackerel, anchovies, seerfishes, tunas, ribbon fishes,
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elasmobranchs, perches, catfishes, silver bellies, goatfish, lizard fishes, ribbon fishes, mullets, barracudas etc.,
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Ornamental Fish
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128 species of ornamental fishes were recorded in Gulf of
Mannar, of which 91 species were recorded around the Mandapam group.
The dominant species were Chaetodontidae, Pomacentridae, Balistidae and Apogonidae.
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Family : Pomacentridae
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Abudefduf bengalensis -Not evaluated
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Abudefduf saxatilis -Least concern
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Abudefduf septemfasciatus - Not evaluated
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Abudefduf sexfasciatus -Not available
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Abudefduf vaigiensis - Not evaluated
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Amphiprion allardi - Not evaluated
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Amphiprion clarkii - Not evaluated
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Amphiprion sebae - Not evaluated
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Chromis dimidiata -Not evaluated
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Chromis viridis- Not evaluated
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Dascyllus aruanus - Not evaluated
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Dascyllus trimaculatus - Not evaluated
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Plectroglyphidodon dickii - Not evaluated
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Pomacentrus trilineatus - Not evaluated
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Pomacentrus vaiuli - Not evaluated
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Stegastes fasciolatus - Not evaluated
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Stegastes nigricans - Not evaluated
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Family : Pomacanthidae
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Pomacanthus annularis - Least concern
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Pomacanthus imperator - Least concern
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Pomacanthus semicirculatus - Least concern
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Pomacanthus sexstriatus - Least concern
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Family : Acanthuridae
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Acanthurus leucosternon - Least concern
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Acanthurus lineatus - Least concern
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Acanthurus nigricans - Least concern
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Acanthurus nigricauda - Least concern
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Acanthurus triostegus - Least cooncern
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Acanthurus xanthopterus -Least concern
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Aethaloperca rogaa - Data deficient
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Zebrasoma desjardinii - Least concern
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Ctenochaetus striatus - Least concern
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Family : Gobiidae
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Amblyeleotris guttata - Not evaluated
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Amblyeleotris steinitzi - Not available
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Amblygobius decussatus - Not evaluated
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Amblygobius phalaena -Not evaluated
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Family : Apogonidae
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Apogon compressus - Least concern
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Apogon fraenatus - Not available
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Apogon kallopterus - Not evaluated
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Apogon nigricans - Not evaluated
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Apogon nigrofasciatus -Not evaluated
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Apogon novemfasciatus - Not evaluated
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Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus -Not evaluated
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Family : Tetraodontidae
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Arothron meleagris - Least concern
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Arothron nigropunctatus - Least concern
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Canthigaster bennetti - Least concern
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Canthigaster solandri - Least concern
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Canthigaster valentini - Least concern
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Family : Balistidae
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Balistapus undulatus - Not evaluated
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Balistoides viridescens - Not evaluated
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Rhinecanthus aculeatus -Not evaluated
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Rhinecanthus rectangulus - Not evaluated
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Family : Caesionidae
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Caesio cuning - Not evaluated
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Caesio teres - Not evaluated
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Caesio xanthonata - Not evaluated
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Family : Caracanthidae
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Caracanthus maculatus - Not evaluated
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Caracanthus unipinna - Not evaluated
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Carangoides malabaricus -Not evaluated
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Family : Carangidae
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Caranx ignobilis - Not evaluated
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Caranx melampygus - Not evaluated
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Caranx sexfasciatus - Least concern
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Gnathanodon speciosus - Not evaluated
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Family : Chaetodontidae
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Chaetodon auriga - Least concern
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Chaetodon collare - Least concern
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Chaetodon melannotus - Least concern
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Chaetodon meyeri - Least concern
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Chaetodon octofasciatus - Least concern
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Chaetodon plebius - Least concern
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Chaetodon trifascialis - Near threatened
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Chaetodon trifasciatus - Least concern
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Chaetodon unimaculatus - Least concern
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Chaetodon vagabundus - Least concern
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Heniochus acuminatus - Least concern
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Heniochus intermedius - Least concern
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Cheilinus trilobatus - Least concern
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Cheilinus undulatus - Endangered
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Chrysiptera unimaculata - Least concern
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Diodon hystrix - Least concern
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Diodon liturosus - Not evaluated
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Ecsenius midas - Least concern
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Family : Serranidae
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Epinephelus fasciatus - Least concern
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Epinephelus lanceolatus - Vulnerable
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Epinephelus tauvina - Data deficient
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Cephalopholis boenak - Least concern
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Family : Fistulariidae
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Fistularia commersonii - Not evaluated
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Family : Muraenidae
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Gymnothorax favagineus - Not evaluated
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Gymnothorax fimbriatus - Not evaluated
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Gymnothorax flavimarginatus - Not evaluated
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Gymnothorax meleagris - Not evaluated
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Gymnothorax tessellata - Not evaluated
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Gymnothorax undulatus - Not evaluated
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Echidna catenata - Least concern
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Family : Labridae
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Labroides bicolor - Least concern
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Labroides dimidiatus - Least concern
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Thalassoma amblycephalum - Least concern
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Thalassoma hardwickei - Least concern
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Thalassoma lunare - Least concern
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Halichoeres hortulanus - Least concern
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Halichoeres scapularis - Least concern
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Hologymnosus doliatus - Least concern
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Family : Lethrinidae
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Lethrinus harak - Not evaluated
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Lethrinus nebulosus - Not evaluated
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Family : Lutjanidae
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Lutjanus biguttatus - Not evaluated
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Lutjanus decussatus - Not available
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Lutjanus fulviflamma - Not evaluated
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Lutjanus fulvus - Not evaluated
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Lutjanus kasmira -Not evaluated
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Family : Blennidae
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Meiacanthus atrodorsalis - Least concern
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Family : Holocentridae
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Myripristis adusta - Not evaluated
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Myripristis vittata -Not evaluated
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Neoniphon sammara - Not evaluated
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Ostracion cubicus - Not evaluated
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Ostracion meleagris - Not evaluated
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Family : Mullidae
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Parupeneus barberinoides - Not evaluated
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Parupeneus barberinus - Not evaluated
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Parupeneus bifasciatus - Not evaluated
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Family : Pemoheridae
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Pempheris vanicolensis - Not evaluated
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Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos -Least concern
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Family : Ephippidae
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Platax orbicularis - Not evaluated
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Platax pinnatus - Not evaluated
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Platax teira - Not evaluated
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Family : Scorpaenidae
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Pterois antennata - Not evaluated
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Pterois volitons -Threatened
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Family : Holocentridae
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Sargocentron cornutum - Not evaluated
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Sargocentron diadema -Not evaluated
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Sargocentron rubrum - Not evaluated
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Sargocentron seychellense - Not evaluated
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Sargocentron violaceum - Not evaluated
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Family : Scaridae
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Scarus frenatus - Least concern
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Scarus ghobban - Least concern
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Scarus sordidus - Least concern
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Flora
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147 sp. of seaweeds, 13 sp. of seagrass etc.,
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Endangered species
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Turtules, Seahorse, Sharks, Dolphins, Whales, Dugongs, etc.,
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Archeologically/Ecologically Important Places
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:
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No. of. Islands
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21
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:
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Environmental status
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:
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:
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Associated ecosystem
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Seaweed, seagrass, pearl banks, sockred chank bed, mangroves, estuaries, mudflats and beaches etc.,
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Seagrass
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Cymodocea serrulata - Least concern
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Cymodocea rotundata - Least concern
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Syringodium isoetifolium - Least concern
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Halodule uninervis - Least concern
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Halodule ovalis - Least concern
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Halophila ovata - Least concern
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Thalassia hemprichii - Least concern
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Enhalus acoroides - Least concern
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Halophila stipulacea - Least concern
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Halophila decipiens - Least concern
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Halophila beccarii - Vulnerable
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Halodule pinifolia - Least concern
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Mangrove
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Avicennia marina - Least concern
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Rhizophora mucronata - Least concern
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Ceriops tagal - Least concern
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Bruguiera cylindrica - Least concern
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Lumnitzera racemosa - Least concern
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Pemphis acidula - Least concern
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Excoecaria agallocha -Least concern
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Aegiceras corniculatum - Least concern
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Rhizophora apiculata - Least concern
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Associated Species
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Salvadora persica - Not assessed
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Pandanus sp. - Vulnerable
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Sesuvium sp. - Least concern
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Scaevola plumieri -Threatened
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Suaeda sp. - Least concern
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Salicornia brachiata - Lower risk near threatened
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Thespesia populnea - Threatened
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Gross average productivity in benthic floor
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74.460gc/m3
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Major threats
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Nature Calamities, Industrial pollution(Ash), liquid effluent, mining, fishing,
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diseases etc.,
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Microbes isolated from the diseased corals
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Bacteria
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Viblio sp. - Not available
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Beggiatoa sp. - Not available
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Desuefovibrio sp. -Not available
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Achrobacter sp. - Not available
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Rseudomonas sp. Not available
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Bacillus sp. - Not available
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Coryne bacterium sp. - Not available
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Flavobacterium sp. -Not available
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Cyanobacteria
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Phormidium corallytiaum - Not available
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P. tenue - Not available
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Lyngbya sp. - Not available
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Spirulina subsala - Not available
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Plectonema terebraus -Not available
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Oscillatoria sp. - Not available
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Microcystis sp. - Not evaluated
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Dark brown coloured sporulating fungus (Source : R.Balasubramanian- 2003)
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Corals recorded
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117 species recorded
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Family : ACROPORIDAE
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Acropora corymbosa - Least concern
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Acropora cytheria - Least concern
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Acropora diversa - Near threatened
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Acropora formosa - Near threatened
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Acropora humilis - Near threatened
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Acropora hyacinthus - Near threatened
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Acropora indica - Not evaluated
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Acropora micropththalma - Least concern
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Acropora millepora - Near threatened
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Acropora nobilis - Least concern
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Acropora variabilis - Data deficient
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Acropora valenciennesi - Least concern
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Astreopora myriophthalma - Least concern
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Montipora digitata - Least concern
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Montipora divaricata - Least concern
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Montipora exerta - Not avaliable
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Montipora foliosa - Near threatened
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Montipora granulosa - Not evaluated
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Montipora hispida - Least concern
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Montipora jonesi - Least concern
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Montipora manauliensis - Least concern
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Montipora monasteriata - Least concern
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Montipora spumosa - Least concern
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Montipora subtilis - Least concern
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Montipora tuberculosa - Least concern
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Montipora turgescens - Least concern
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Montipora venosa - Near threatened
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Montipora verrucosa - Least concern
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Montipora verrilli - Data deficient
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Family : AGARICIIDAE
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Pachyseris rugosa - Vulnerable
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Pavona decussata - Vulnerable
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Pavona divaricata - Not evaluated
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Pavona duerdeni - Least concern
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Pavona varians - Least concern
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Family : CARYOPHYLLIIDAE
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Heterocyathus aequicostatus - Least concern
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Paracyathus profundus - Not evaluated
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Polycyathus verrilli - Not evaluated
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Family : DENDROPHYLLIIDAE
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Balanophyllia affinis - Critically endangered
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Endopsamnia philippinensis -Critically endangered
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Dendrophyllia coarctata - Not evaluated
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Dendrophyllia indica - Not evaluated
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Heteropsammia michelini - Least concern
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Tubastrea aurea - Not evaluated
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Turbinaria crater - Not evaluated
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Turbinaria peltata -Vulnerable
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Turbinaria undata - Not evaluated
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Family : FAVIIDAE
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Cyphastrea microphthalma - Least concern
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Cyphastrea serailia - Least concern
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Echinopora lamellosa - Least concern
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Favia favus - Least concern
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Favia pallida - Least concern
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Favia speciosa - Least concern
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Favia stelligera - Near threatened
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Favia valenciennesi - Near threatened
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Favites abdita - Near threatened
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Favites halicora - Near threatened
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Favites melicerum - Near threatened
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Favites pentagona - Least concern
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Goniastrea pectinata - Least concern
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Family : FUNGIIDAE
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Cycloseris cyclolites - Least concern
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Family : MERULINIDAE
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Merulina ampliata - Least concern
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Family : MUSSIDAE
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Symphyllia nobilis - Least concern
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Symphyllia radians - Least concern
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Family : OCULINIDAE
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Galaxea astreata - Vulnerable
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Galaxea fascicularis - Near threatened
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Family : POCILLOPORIDAE
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Pocillopora damicornis - Least concern
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Pocillopora eydouxi - Near threatened
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Pocillopora madrasis - Least concern
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Pocillopora verrucosa - Least concern
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Family : PORITIDAE
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Goniopora nigra - Vulnerable
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Goniopora planulata -Vulnerable
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Goniopora stokesi - Near threatened
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Porites compressa - Least concern
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Porites exserta - Least concern
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Porites lichen - Least concern
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Porites lutea - Least concern
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Porites mannarensis - Not available
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Porites solida - Least concern
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Family : SIDERASTERIDAE
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Pseudosiderastrea tayami - Near threatened
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Psammocora contigua - Near threatened
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Siderastrea savignyana - Least concern
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Family : RHIZANGIIDAE
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Culicia rubeola - Not evaluated
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Protection status
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Biosphere reserve – Declared in 1989
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Gulf of Mannar National Park (Ramanathapuram/ Tuticorin) Tamil Nadu –
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Declared in 1980 – Area 6.23 sq.km – Ecosystem: 21 islands, coral reefs,
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mangroves, sea grass beds and beaches.
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Great Nicobar – State of Andaman and Nicobar – Year of Notification 1989 –
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Area sq.km 10500.
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