ON SOME NEW RECORDS OF TESTATE AMOEBAE (PROTOZOA: RHIZOPODA) FROM MEGHAMALAI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, WESTERN GHATS, TAMIL NADU, INDIA

Abstract

Testate amoebae are a group of unicellular free-living protozoa which are characterized by morphologically distinct shells ‘’(tests)’’ which play an important role in the natural ecosystems as bio-indicators. So far no study has been made in Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu, part of Western Ghats, India and this study was done from the moss samples of the sanctuary. The study resulted the reports of 25 species of testate amoebae new to the sanctuary and the results also show that the testate diversity of India has increased by 4species.