Author(s):

Raveen R, Samuel VD, Samuel T

Abstract: Pulicat lake is the second largest brackish water ecosystem on the East coast of India, 60 km north of Chennai city, Tamil Nadu, India and is supposed to be one of the habitats for Amphioxus (Branchiostoma lanceolatum). The cephalochordate Amphioxus (lancelet) is considered to be the closest relative to invertebrates. It has key vertebrate characteristics viz., a notochord, a dorsal nerve cord, segmented muscles, pharyngeal gill slits and a post anal tail. This interesting organism which was once found in abundance along the shores of the Pulicat lake area up to the late 1970’s has disappeared from this habitat. Changes in the topography of the lake area and pollution from various sources may be the possible causes.

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