Occurrence of Live Rhodolith Bed of Lithophyllum kotschyanum Unger (Corallinaceae:Lithophylloideae) in Palk Bay:First Record from India

Rhodolithsare nodular form of marine free-living, non- geniculate, crustosecoralline red algae, resembling the corals. The communities, in which they dominate are referred to as ‘ rhodolithbeds’, ‘rhodolites’ or ‘ maerl’. Rhodolithsassume different sizes, shapes and forms (small thalli- like, twig- like, large round shaped, branching/unbranching, etc.) based on different factors such as water motion, bioturbation, grazing, fouling, bleaching, etc..