Free-living marine nematode diversity from the Indian coasts

We present an updated taxonomic list of free-living nematode community from Indian coasts and Andaman & Nicobar Islands based on available published literatures. The Indian coast was divided into six basic habitats. The faunal list presents 288 nematode species, 227 genus, 44 families and 9 orders. The continental shelf had the highest species richness (225), followed by intertidal areas (81). The coastal diversity of nematofaunal community is higher in East than west sector. Halalaimus, Viscosia, Sabatieria, Bathylaimus, and Theristus are present in all regions. The fluctuation in species number throughout the Indian coast is probably due to differences in geomorphology, habitat heterogeneity among coastal regions, and unbalanced research efforts. Present paper may help to give more information on marine nematodes.