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Some observations on the backwater clam, Meretrix casta (Chemnitz) in the Beypore and Korapuzha estuaries

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Relation http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/2291/
 
Title Some observations on the backwater clam,
Meretrix casta (Chemnitz) in the Beypore and
Korapuzha estuaries
 
Creator Seshappa, G
 
Subject Clam
 
Description The backwater clam, Meretrix casta (Chemnitz), is a bivalve mollusc of
considerable commercial importance and occurs in estuaries and backwaters of both
the east and west coasts of India. Any biological study of this species will therefore
be of interest from the scientific and also the fisheries points of view. Before
the 'fifties Hornell's work seems to be the only instance in the country, of any considerable
interest in this species (Hornell, 1917 and 1921) both from a systematic and
the economic points of view. In 1953 Abraham made some detailed studies on
certain aspects of the biology of the species including a study of the environment
and also the growth rate under natural as well as experimental conditions, based
on material from the Adyar waters near Madras. More recently, Durve (1963 and
1964) made some detailed investigations on the rate of filtration, gonadal changes and
spawning behaviour in the species at Mandapara and Durve and Dharma Raja (1965)
have also studied the dimensional relation in this clam from two localities at Mandapam
and also the probable change of form with growth in one locality (1968).
Reddiah and Mammen (1966) have described the copepod parasites of M. casta
from Adyar. While all this work and the earlier observations of Hornell related in
detail to the east coast material, not much work of a biological nature has so far
been published on this species from the west coast, though Hornell has considered
the west coast also for his systematic researches. Silas and Alagarswami (1965)
have studied a case of parasitism by the peacrab (Pinnotheres sp.) on this clam
at Malpe.
 
Publisher CMFRI/ICAR
 
Date 1967
 
Type Article
PeerReviewed
 
Format application/pdf
 
Language en
 
Identifier http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/2291/1/Article_21.pdf
Seshappa, G (1967) Some observations on the backwater clam, Meretrix casta (Chemnitz) in the Beypore and Korapuzha estuaries. Indian Journal of Fisheries, 14 (1&2). pp. 298-305.