Poornima Baby and Anjananadh PS

The study documents the rich diversity of Molluscs inhabiting Dharmadam Beach, Kannur district, Kerala over the study period, recording a total of 47 species representing three classes, 24 orders, and 26 families. Among the collected specimens, 21 gastropod species, 25 bivalve species, and a single cephalopod species were identified. Notably, Vepricardium asiaticum emerged as the most prevalent species, contrasting sharply with the least common species, Cardites antiquates and Nacella lapillus. The Gastropoda family Muricidae exhibited the highest species diversity, hosting seven distinct species. In contrast, Nacella lapillus ranked lowest in gastropod abundance, while Murex carbonnieri dominated as the most abundant species. Vepricardium asiaticum stood out as the most prevalent bivalve species, while Cardites antiquates proved to be the least common. These findings underscore the intricate ecological dynamics and varied population distributions within the molluscan community at Dharmadam Beach.

DOI: 10.22271/23940522.2025.v12.i5b.1135

Pages: 111-115  |  175 Views  92 Downloads