COMPARISON OF MOUTHPARTS OF TWO FAMILIES OF AMPHIPODS OF PULICAT LAKE, TALITRIDAE AND GAMMARIDAE

Amphipods are tiny crustaceans that have adapted to diverse habits and habitats of different ecosystems. Found in freshwater, brackish water and a few in terrestrial ecosystems, these malacostracans play a pivotal role in the energetics of the lake. The mouthparts aid in the amphipods serving as detrivores, an important trophic level in the aquatic ecosystem and the modifications in the mouthparts for adaptation to different ecosystems. Of the eight families of amphipods in Pulicat lake, amphipods from two families, Talitridae, an intertidal group and Gammaridae an aquatic group were analysed of the mouthparts to detect the variation in the mouthpart to suit their habitats. It was found that the mouthparts varied with regard to the palps, size of the molars and the setae. There has been subtle modification amongst the genera to adapt to the type of food it feeds on. Significant among the differences are the absence of mandibular palp in Talitridae and densely setose maxilla in Gammaridae. It is found to correspond to the habit and food available in their respective habitats.