Ecology of <i>Nephtys oligobranchia</i> Southern from the Vasishta Godavari Estuary

218-221Quantitative abundance and distribution of Nephtys oligobranchia in the intertidal habitat of the Vasishta Godavari Estuary, Andhra Pradesh, India in relation to the distance from the bar mouth, tidal level, temperature, interstitial salinity, dissolved oxygen and sediment composition are studied for 15 months (October 1976-January 1978). Tidal levels, exposure to environmental conditions during low tide and salinity fluctuations do not influence its abundance and distribution. Different species of Nephtys are restricted to different substrata or habitats according to their ecological preferences