On the habitat, habits and food of Lambis lambis and Hemifusus cochlidium

Abstract

Lambis lambis and Hemifusus cochlidium are two important marina gastropods of commercial value in India, which occur at several places along the southeast coast and are exploited for their shell. The habitat, habits and food of these gastropods occurring in Gulf of Mannar off Kayalpatnam, 30 km south of Tuticorin have been studied. The two species occur at depths of 2-12 fathoms in sandy muddy habitat with rocky outgrowths and are netted in bottom set gill nets (singi valai) laid for lobster*. Direct observations have been made on their habits by SCUBA diving. The gastropods burrow in the sandy muddy bottom and sometimes climb over rocks and coral stones found in the area. The food of the two gastropods is similar and consists of ploychaetes, small crustaceans and bivalve molluscs. The nature of sediments, the fauna and flora occurring along with the gastropods in their habitat and the behaviour of the two species in laboratory has been studied.