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Freshwater sponge fauna (Porifera) of coastal waters of India

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Abstract

India has a long coastal line, measuring over seven thousand kilometers, along eight States and some Union Territories. In addition to marine ecosystems along this coast line large variety of freshwater wetlands are also found. Porifers, commonly called as sponges, harbor many such waters. Out of 30 species belonging to 10 genera of freshwater sponges noted from India, 29 are found to inhabit coastal wetlands including 10 species endemic to India. Paper deals with the diversity and distribution of these species in such wetlands and adds some ecological notes.

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Acknowledgements

Author is thankful to all associated with his investigations over last four decades, directly or indirectly.

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  1. Tantia University, Sri Ganganagar, 335002, India

    M. M. Saxena

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  1. M. M. Saxena
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Saxena, M.M. Freshwater sponge fauna (Porifera) of coastal waters of India. Wetlands Ecol Manage 29, 767–774 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-020-09761-w

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