Mud of a Mud Bank in Kerala, South-West Coast of India

Fine particles of mud measuring < 1 to 300 p.m constitute the mud of the AUeppey mud bank. These particles, with some variations in their size, occur throughout the year in the region of the mud bank. Total phosphorus content of the mud is high and its carbon content is related to the texture of the mud. Mud, largely composed of very fine particles, has a rela. tively high organic carbon content Plant pigments and carbohydrate occur in very low coucen• trations and the caloric value of the mud is also low indicating that the mud is of poor nutritional value. Fish and prawns caught froOl the region of the mud bank contain large quantities of mud in their guts suggesting that mud is ingested when probably other food organisms are not readily available