Abundance of the onuphids polychaete Onuphis eremita in Tranquebar, Southeast coast of India

The results of the present study describe observations about the distribution of the intertidal polychaete Onuphis eremita along sandyshore of Tranquebar coast, southeast India. The samplings were collected from three different water levels during one year. In sandy shores thebeach worms were crowded. The tidal exposure and percentage composition of sediment particles and organic matter were the main factors influencingthe animal abundance. Highest density was 15.66/m2 in low water mark (LWM) in summer and lowest density occurred during monsoon(4/m2) at high water mark (HWM). The larger animals (32.6 cm) were collected at low water mark and smallest animals (9.2 cm) at midwater mark levels. The environmental parameters showed significant variation with respect to the polychaete distribution. In general the lowwater mark level harbored a larger range of size and number of individuals than the mid water mark and high water mark levels. In addition,these worms had got importance in this region due to their use as bait for more common edible fishes like Sea boss, Groupers, Siver Sillago,Snappers, Rabbitfish and other smaller carangids.