Chaetognaths of the Arabian Sea
301
s. enflata is the dominant species in all except a few samples. It constitutes about
32 - 86% of the total chaetognaths in the sample. The distribution shows a nearly uniform
population density along the western half of the Arabian Sea during the SW monsoon,
while the eastern part has relatively poor concentrations of S. enflata. The maximum
30'
N
50'
70'
E sO" 3~'
N
20'
20"
la'
0'
s
Fig. 6 a. Geographical distribution of S. enflata during the SW monsoon
300~~~~~--__ ~-----T~----~--~~
N
s
10''--~~-~~:::::--~~~;;-~-~:;-~7"'"o;;:.
Fig. 6b. Geographical distribution of S. enflata during the NE monsoon
density is off the Somali coast and small areas of maximum density are observed in the
vicinity of Somalia (9000 per std. haul), mouth of Red Sea (18585 per std. haul),
Gulf of Aden, Arabian coast and near Ceylon. The lowest representation of S. enflata is
seen during the SW monsoon period and is restricted to a small area near Gujarat.
Compared to the NE monsoon period the SW monsoon period shows a greater representa-