Diversity and distribution of Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) in the rock pools of Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India

Species diversity and distribution of Cladocera in the freshwater rock pools of the northern Western Ghats have been reported. Fifty-nine samples collected from 12 different localities contained 22 species belonging to five families. Chydoridae was the most species rich family with 12 species followed by Daphniidae with five species. Species of the genus Alona were relatively rare, but two other alonines, Leydigia (N.) ciliata and Karualona cf. karua were commonly observed. Congeneric species never co-occurred in the same pool. Distributional maps and taxonomic comments are presented for the commonly observed species. Jaccard's similarity index (C_J) comparing localities showed overall similarity.