In July 1994 reports appeared in the media about the large scale occurrence of a tiny 'antlike
fish killer' in the Kumbalangi-Perumpadappu area of the Cochin backwaters causing threat to
the aquatic living resources.The CMFRI initiated an investigation on the problems. The isopod C.Jluviatilis is a commonly occurring organism in the Cochin backwaters and elsewhere. It is a voracious carnivore which if present in very large numbers can cause a threat to the living resources in the estuarine water area. Population explosion of this isopod has now taken place in the Kumbalangi - Perumpadappu area. The reason for the unprecedented population explosion of this isopod in the Kumbalangi- Perumpadappu area is the recent changes taken place in the ecosystem there
