An Annotated Checklist of Shrimp Diversity of Machilipatnam Coast, Andhra Pradesh, India
B. Anusha *
Department of Fisheries Resource Management, College of Fishery Science, Andhra Pradesh Fisheries University, Muthukur, SPSR, Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh, India.
T. Suguna
Department of Fisheries Resource Management, Andhra Pradesh Fisheries University, Narasapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India.
N. Veerabhadra Rao
Department of Fisheries Resource Management, College of Fishery Science, Andhra Pradesh Fisheries University, Narasapuram, West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, India.
K. Madhavi
Department of Aquatic Environment Management, College of Fishery Science, Andhra Pradesh Fisheries University, Narasapuram, West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, India.
N. Jesintha
Department of Fisheries Resource Management, College of Fishery Science, Andhra Pradesh Fisheries University, Muthukur, SPSR, Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh, India.
K. Bheemeswara Rao
Department of Fisheries Resource Management, Fisheries Research Station, Andhra Pradesh Fisheries University, Undi, West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, India.
R.S. Sravani
Department of Fisheries Resource Management, College of Fishery Science, Andhra Pradesh Fisheries University, Muthukur, SPSR, Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh, India.
N. Mohana Swapna
Department of Fisheries Resource Management, College of Fishery Science, Andhra Pradesh Fisheries University, Muthukur, SPSR, Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh, India.
M. Nayomi
Department of Fisheries Resource Management, College of Fishery Science, Andhra Pradesh Fisheries University, Muthukur, SPSR, Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh, India.
P. Pooja
Department of Fisheries Resource Management, College of Fishery Science, Andhra Pradesh Fisheries University, Muthukur, SPSR, Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Machilipatnam, a coastal town in Andhra Pradesh, has a minor fishing harbour and serves as a significant hub for the fisheries sector in Andhra Pradesh. An intensive survey was conducted to assess the diversity and distribution of shrimp species along Machilipatnam coast. Three stations, namely, Gilakaladindi (Fishing Harbour), Manginapudi, and Tallapalem were selected along the stretch and samples were collected from September 2024 to August 2025. A total of 26 shrimp species including 21 penaeid species and 5 non-penaeid species were documented in the present study. Among the three selected stations, Gilakaladindi exhibited the highest species diversity with 26 species, followed by Manginapudi with 25 species and Tallapalem with 24 species. The taxonomically validated checklist of shrimp species distributed along the Machilipatnam coast serves as a baseline information for future biodiversity assessments, ecological research, and fisheries management.
Keywords: Shrimp diversity, Machilipatnam coast, shrimp fishery, fisheries management