Sargassa of Indian seas

Abstract

Collection of this.seaweed dates froμi ·as early a period as 1820. The total number of species recorded from Indian seas is 33. These are distributed along the coast lines of India and a.round the islands of the Indian Ocean, particularly tho Andamans, the Nicobars and the island of Ceylon. There are 6 endemic species in India. A key to the different species and complete descriptions of Indian Sargasso. have been given in the paper. The· range of distribution of these species has been delineated in the map. It has been observed that the Indian species show much affinity to the Pacific and Malayan species. About 45% of the Indian species occur· in the Pacific, 33% in the I\-folayan region and 6% in the East African coasts. The distribution of the Indian species of Sargassum against the background of their world distribution has also been dealt with in the paper.