A SURVEY ON DIVERSITY OF GASTROPOD SHELLS INHABITED BY HERMIT CRABS IN DHARMADAM COAST, KANNUR DISTRICT, KERALA, INDIA
*Sneha Ganga ND and Dhivya R.
ABSTRACT
The present study was carried out in an attempt to understand and measure the status of the diversity of gastropod
shells inhabited by Hermit crabs in Dharmadam Coast, Kannur district, Kerala, India. Samples were collected by
handpicking during low tide at intervals for three months from November 2020 to January 2021. During the study
a total of 15 species of gastropod shell belonging to 1phylum, 1 class, 4 orders, and 11families were identified. Of
these, 7 species belong to the order Neogastropoda, 4 species to Littorinimorpha, 3 species to Caenogastropoda,
and one species belong to Trochida. According to their family level, 3 species belongs to family Muricidae, 2
species each were reported from families Olividae and Turritellidae, and one species each belongs to the
remaining 8 families. The variation in abundance of gastropods at the Dharmadam coast could have resulted from
anthropogenic activities.It is a preliminary study on gastropod shell diversity. Further studies are needed for
detailed exploration of the gastropod fauna, its habitat and threats being experienced by these organisms.
Keywords: Gastropods, Molluscs, Diversity, Shell pattern, Dharmadam Coast.
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