On the molluscan fauna of Lakshadweep included in various schedules of Wildlife (Protection) Act of India

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1 On the mollusn fun of Lkshdweep inluded in vrious shedules of Wildlife (Protetion) At of Indi Review A. Bijukumr 1, R. Rvinesh 2, A.R. Arthi 3 & K.K. Idreesu 4 1,2,3 Deprtment of Aquti Biology nd Fisheries, University of Kerl, Thiruvnnthpurm, Kerl , Indi 4 Deprtment of Siene nd Tehnology, Kvrtti, U.T. of Lkshdweep , Indi 1 ijupuzhyorm@gmil.om (orresponding uthor), 2 rvineshr08@gmil.om, 3 rthihepl@gmil.om, 4 idreesu@gmil.om ISSN (Online) ISSN (Print) OPEN ACCESS Astrt: Out of the 24 speies of mrine molluss inluded in Shedule I nd IV of the Wildlife (Protetion) At (WPA) of Indi, 19 speies were reorded from the ostl wters of Lkshdweep. A reent survey onduted y the uthors reorded the presene of 14 sheduled molluss in Lkshdweep. Sheduled speies suh s Plun plent (reorded from Kvrtti) nd Tudil spirillus (reorded from Klpeni) re new reords from Lkshdweep. The pper provides detils for txonomi identifition of sheduled molluss nd disusses strtegies for onservtion of sheduled molluss of Lkshdweep. Keywords: Bivlvi, Cephlopod, onservtion, Gstropod, Mollus, Nutilus, Wildlife (Protetion) At. Mlylm Astrt: ഇn#യ ൽ വന#ജ വ (സ രkണ) ന യമt ൽ പ" ക I, IV എn വയ ൽ ഉൾ p! മ t 24 ജവജ ത കടൽ മ ള%ക കള ൽ 19 എ" ലkദ$ പ n ത രkടല ൽ ന n ക 't. Plun plent (കവറt യ ൽ ന n ക 't യ*), Tudil spirillus (കൽ pന യ ൽ ന n ക 't യ*) എn വ യ ലkദ$ പ ൽ ന n ആദ#മ യ ' ക *t n.. പ0 കയ ൽ പ# ലkദ$ പ ല മ ള"ക ക ള ത ര റ യ ൻ സഹ യ k n വ ശദവ വരŋള/ അവയ ട സ രkണt ന ll ത:nŋള/ ഈ ലഖനt ൽ വ #തര '!പത പ ദ k n. Tridn mxim NOT EVALUATED DATA DEFICIENT LEAST CONCERN NEAR CRITICALLY EXTINCT VULNERABLE ENDANGERED THREATENED ENDANGERED IN THE WILD EXTINCT NE DD LC NT VU EN CR EW EX DOI: ZooBnk: urn:lsid:zoonk.org:pu:46141c50-3dff-408e-a6b5-0963af23aa7f Editor: Anonymity requested. Dte of pulition: 26 My 2015 (online & print) Mnusript detils: Ms # o4140 Reeived 02 Septemer 2014 Finl reeived 30 April 2015 Finlly epted 02 My 2015 Cittion: Bijukumr, A., R. Rvinesh, A.R. Arthi & K.K. Idreesu (2015). On the mollusn fun of Lkshdweep inluded in vrious shedules of Wildlife (Protetion) At of Indi. Journl of Thretened Tx 7(6): ; Copyright: Cretive Commons Attriution 4.0 Interntionl Liense. JoTT llows unrestrited use of this rtile in ny medium, reprodution nd distriution y providing dequte redit to the uthors nd the soure of pulition. Funding: Deprtment of Biotehnology, Government of Indi (BT/PR13602/AAQ/03/508/2010). Competing interests: The uthors delre no ompeting interests. For Author Detils nd Author Contriution see end of this rtile. Aknowledgements: The uthors thnk the Deprtment of Biotehnology, Government of Indi for the finnil support of the projet (BT/PR13602/ AAQ/03/508/2010). The uthors lso thnk the Deprtment of Siene nd Tehnology (Permission F No. 42/4/2011-S&T dted ; F No. 42/4/2011- S&T (Vol.1)/210 dted ) nd the Deprtment of Environment nd Forests, Union Territory of Lkshdweep (Permission F. No. 16/8/2008-E&F dted nd ; F.No. 19/5/2012- E&F dted ) for the offiil permission to study mrine molluss of the islnds. Arthi thnks the txonomy fellowship offered y the Kerl Stte Counil for Siene, Tehnology nd Environment for the PhD progrmme. Identifition of Tridn spp. ws onfirmed y Dr. Jn John ter Poorten, Zoologil Museum, Amsterdm. Good qulity photogrphs of Lmis indomris were given y Mr. Ulrih Wieneke, Murnu, Germny. Thnks re due to M/s Sndy Beh (Kvrtti) for their help in field work. 7253

2 INTRODUCTION Considered s iologil hotspots nd the legy of distintive evolutionry history, islnd iodiversity is unique owing to txonomi distintness, endemism nd speifi hitt requirements (d Fonse et l. 2006). Conversely, the risk of extintion of speies is muh more pronouned in islnds s the popultions re rther restrited, smll nd speifi to ertin hitts. Anthropogeni interventions hve tstrophi effets on islnd iodiversity nd therefore demnd urgent ttention of onservtionists nd poliy mkers. The Seretrit of the Convention on Biologil Diversity (CBD) onsidered the theme of the Interntionl Dy for Biologil Diversity (IDB) on 22 My 2014 s Islnd Biodiversity. In the se of Lkshdweep, the entire eonomy of the islnds nd the gret ulturl ethos of the islnders remin losely interlinked with the rih iodiversity. The threts to iodiversity re primrily due to unsustinle developmentl tivities, inrese in humn popultion, overexploittion nd limte hnge (KSCSTE 2013). Mollus omprise highly diverse phylum of invertertes, with epted desried living speies of molluss vrying from 50,000 to mximum of 1,20,000 speies, nd form the lrgest mrine phylum, omprising out 23% of ll the nmed mrine orgnisms (Chpmn 2009). They form n eonomilly vlule txon nd re well represented in exports of mrine produts nd in domesti trde in the form of vrious produts suh s rfts, urios nd perls. In tropil ses they oupy every trophi level, rnging from primry produers to top level rnivores (Mohmed 2012). The diversity of mrine molluss in Indi is estimted s 3,370 speies y Venktrmn & Wfr (2005) nd s 2,300 y Tripthy & Mukhopdhyy (2015). The islnd eosystems in Indi re highly iodiverse with regrd to mollusn fun. While the diversity of mollusn fun of the Andmn nd Nior Islnds inludes 1,282 speies (Rmkrishn & Dey 2010), in Lkshdweep there re out 424 speies (Ro & Ro 1991). A reent dtse prepred y KSCSTE (2013) shows tht the mollusn diversity in Lkshdweep inludes 469 speies. Surveys on mollusn fun of Lkshdweep y vrious uthors in the lst few dedes re n indition of not hving fully explored the mollusn diversity of the islnd nd therefore the numer of mollusn speies is proly underestimted (Nmoodiri & Sivds 1979; Appukuttn et l. 1989; Apte 1998, 2009, 2012,, 2014; Rmkrishn & Dey 2010; Ro 2003; Apte & Sutirth 2010; Apte et l. 2010, 2012, 2014; Prhkrn et l. 2012; Susn et l. 2012; Venktrmn et l. 2012; Aditi & Apte 2013; Rvinesh et l. 2013; Vishl & Apte 2013; Apte & Vishl 2014). Considering the inresing threts to mrine iodiversity, the Government of Indi hs inluded mny mrine speies under the four shedules of Wildlife (Protetion) At (WPA), 1972 ( in/division/wildlife). Under Indin WPA the speies to e proteted re listed under Shedules I to VI. While Shedule I nd II (Prt II) speies re overed y the most stringent regultions in the At to get the highest level of legl protetion, speies in Shedules II (Prt I), III nd IV re given progressively nrrow levels of protetion; Shedule V represents speies lelled vermin whih re not fforded protetion of ny kind nd Shedule VI inludes six plnts (Prshnth & Veenkumri 1996; Kunte 2008). A totl of 24 speies of mrine molluss of Indi hve een inluded under Shedule I nd IV of WPA (Rmkrishn & Dey 2003). This pper douments 19 speies of mrine molluss reorded from Lkshdweep, represented under vrious shedules of WPA, ompiled from vrious dtses/pulitions nd lso sed on the primry dt olleted. MATERIALS AND METHODS Indi s smllest Union Territory Lkshdweep is n rhipelgo onsisting of 36 islnds with n re of 32km 2. It is uni-distrit Union Territory nd it omprises 12 tolls, three reefs, five sumerged nks nd 10 inhited islnds, whih inlude Kvrtti, Agtti, Amini, Androth, Kiltn, Klpeni, Kdmt, Chetlt, Bitr nd Minioy (Fig. 1). It is loted etween N nd E, km wy from the ostl ity of Kohi in Kerl. The islnds re ring-shped tolls lying long north-south xis (exept Androth) with lgoon to the west nd open se to the est. Lkshdweep is the only orl toll of the ountry. With vst lgoon of 4,200km 2, it hs territoril wters of 20,000km 2, n Exlusive Eonomi Zone (EEZ) of 4,00,000km 2 nd ost line of out 132km. Lkshdweep, Mldives nd Chgos re three islnd groups in the Indin Oen tht together form vst sumrine mountin rnge, the Chgos-Ldive Plteu. This volni rnge lies just est of the Mid-Indin Ridge nd west of the Mid-Indin Bsin, nd the hin of islnds omprises the most extensive orl reef nd toll ommunity in the Indin Oen s well s the lrgest toll system in the World (Olson & Dinerstein 1998). As prt of the present study, surveys were rried out 7254

3 Figure 1. Lkshdweep islnds Figure 2. Generlised digrm of ivlve mollus in Agtti, Androth, Bngrm (uninhited islnd), Bitr, Kdmt, Klpeni, Kvrtti nd Minioy islnds for the doumenttion of molluss t multiple intervls from Jnury 2012 to Septemer The orgnisms were photo doumented using methods suh s SCUBA diving, snorkelling nd intertidl hndpiking. The photogrphs of sheduled molluss nd their life history stges were prepred sed on speimens photogrphed in the 7255

4 Figure 3. Generlised digrm of gstropod mollus field or otherwise mentioned. Generlised digrms of gstropod nd ivlve molluss re provided in Figs 2 nd 3. Seondry dt olletion ws mde from ll the pulished reords on mollusn fun of the islnds nd ville heklists (Appukuttn et l. 1989; Ro & Ro 1991; Apte 1998; Ro 2003; Rmkrishn & Dey 2010; Venktrmn et l. 2012; KSCSTE 2013; Apte 2014). A heklist of molluss in vrious shedules of WPA of Indi ws prepred with updted nmes nd lssifition. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The present survey reorded the presene of 14 speies of molluss representing the vrious shedules of WPA of Indi. Of these, Plun plent (Linneus, 1758) (reorded from Kvrtti) nd Tudil spirillus (Linneus, 1767) (reorded from Klpeni) re new reords from Lkshdweep. A heklist of mrine molluss in the vrious shedules of WPA nd speies reorded from Lkshdweep (Tle 1) shows tht 19 speies of sheduled molluss were reorded from the islnd eosystem. 1. Hrpgo hirgr (Linneus, 1758) (Imges 1-k) Appukuttn et l. 1989, p.79; Ro & Ro 1991, p. 277; Rmkrishn & Dey 2003, p 28; KSCSTE 2013, p. 146; Apte 1998, p.31; Apte 2014, p. 59. Desription: Very thik, roust, ovte nd hevy shell, with distint nterior noth. Spire very otuse nd knotty. Six long nd urved mrginl digittions, expnded from the flring, thik outer lip nd nls (Imge 1 i, j). Anterior nl nd posterior most digittion of outer lip with their ses reurved t right ngle to the left side. Deep stromoid noth etween 4 th nd 5 th lil digittions. Whorls 9 11; the four uppermost whorls re depressed, so s to give the spire trunted pperne nd eh of the other whorls hve row of strong rounded knos. Inner lip serrted. White exterior with rown pthes nd fleks; perture rose pink or ornge interior. Columellr llus rown in speimens from Lkshdweep nd Sri Lnk hoolte rown, nd re distint from Pifi speimens (unpulished dt). Columell nd perture lirte (sulptured with fine lines or grooves). Operulum hitinous, drk rown, fusiform, with fine stritions on one side. In the initil developmentl phses, H. hirgr shells hve thin outer lips, without ny fingers (Imges 1-d). As they grow, the outer lips eome thik, expnd nd develop digits (Imges 1 e-h). Shell length mm; Mximum length 320mm. Remrks: In Lkshdweep it is found round ll inhited islnds (Appukuttn et l. 1989; Ro & Ro 1991; Apte 1998, 2014; Ro 2003; KSCSTE 2013), often ssoited with sndy ottom nd lge-overed reefs. Found in littorl nd sulittorl zones, in tidl pools nd low tide levels to depth of round 20m. This is ommon stromid in Lkshdweep. The flesh of this speies ws erlier olleted y the lol people for the preprtion of pikles. Inluded in Shedule IV of WPA of Indi. Not listed in CITES nd not evluted in IUCN Red List of Thretened Speies. Currently the developmentl stges re olleted y the shell olletors without knowing its identity. Further, the juvenile stges of this speies re lmost impossile to distinguish from the juveniles of Hrpgo rthritius. 2. Hrpgo rthritius (Röding, 1798) (Imges 2 -) Apte 1998, p.32; Apte 2014, p. 59. Desription: Shell thik, roust, ovte nd hevy with five lil digittions. Siphonl nl turned to the left. It looks similr to H. hirgr, ut differs from the sme with slightly depressed, rod rounded rhing on the end of perture. This smller speies is with hevy whitish remy plitions in the perture etween whih 7256

5 e g d j i k f h re drk purplish, streks, whih help distinguishing the speies. Lrge stromoid noth loted etween the 4th nd 5th lil digittions. The outer lip is yellowish or pinkish yellow with splothes of purplish underlying the white spirl lire. Columell rownish-purple; four spinl ords on the prietl wll. Peiostrum thin, vrnish like. Operulum hitinous, uurn rown olour, fusiform, with fine stritions on one side. Remrks: In Lkshdweep it ws reorded from Klpeni (Apte 1998, 2014) nd is rre in ourrene. Inluded in Shedule IV of WPA. Not listed in CITES. Not evluted y IUCN Red List of Thretened Speies. The juvenile stges of this speies re diffiult to distinguish Imge 1. Hrpgo hirgr Linneus. h - vrious life stges; i - dorsl view of dult shell; j - ventrl view of dult shell; k - lterl view of dult shell (sle = 1m) from the juveniles of H. hirgr. 3. Lmis rot (Link, 1807) (Imges 3 -) Apte 2014, p. 60. Desription: Shpe irregulr with long, slender, urved siphonl digittions. The whorls re enirled y three rows of smll knos nd mny spirl threds. The spines on the outer lip, inluding the one enveloping the posterior nl, re tuulr in struture, ut re usully filled up when the shell hs fully grown, wheres only the most nterior spine remins tuulr s the nterior nl. Anterior nl expnded in very long nd slender digittion. The outer surfe is white in olour 7257

6 Tle 1. List of mrine molluss in vrious Shedules of Wildlife (Protetion) At of Indi Clssifition Phylum: Mollus Clss: Gstropod Sulss: Vetigstropod Superfmily: Trohoide Fmily: Tegulide Tetus nilotius (Linneus, 1767) Fmily: Turinide Turo mrmortus Linneus, 1758 Sulss : Cenogstropod Order: Littorinimorph Fmily: Stromide Dolomen plit sildi (G.B. Sowery II, 1842) 4. Hrpgo hirgr (Linneus, 1758) 5. Hrpgo rthritius (Röding, 1798) 6. Lmis rot (Link, 1807) 7. Lmis trunt ([Lightfoot], 1786) 8. Lmis milleped (Linneus, 1758) Lmis indomris Aott, 1961[Listed s Lmis sorpius (Linneus, 1758)] Fmily: Csside Cssis ornut (Linneus, 1758) 11. Cypressis ruf (Linneus, 1758) Fmily: Rnellide Chroni tritonis (Linneus, 1758) Fmily: Cypreide Stphyle limin (Lmrk, 1810) Leporiypre mpp (Linneus, 1758) Common Nme Ctegory in WPA Reords from Lkshdweep Top Shell Shedule IV Not reorded Gret Green Turon Sild s Conh Chirgr Spider Conh Arthriti Spider Conh Ornge Spider Conh Trunte spider Conh Milleped Spider Conh Sorpio Conh Horned Helmet Bull Mouth Helmet Trumpet Triton Limin Cowrie Mp owrie Shedule IV Shedule IV Shedule IV Shedule IV Shedule IV Shedule IV Shedule IV Shedule IV Shedule I Shedule I Shedule I Shedule IV Shedule IV Not reorded Reorded from Lkshdweep; speifi lolity not mentioned. Found round ll inhited islnds of Lkshdweep Klpeni Minioy, Klpeni, Kvrtti Found round ll inhited islnds of Lkshdweep Not reorded Reorded from Lkshdweep; speifi lolity not mentioned. Minioy, Klpeni, Androth, Bngrm Minioy, Klpeni, Androth, Bngrm, Chetlet Agtti, Amini, Chetlet, Klpeni Reorded from Lkshdweep; speifi lolity not mentioned. Reorded from Lkshdweep; speifi lolity not mentioned. 15 Tlpri tlp (Linneus, 1758) Mole Cowrie Shedule IV Kvrtti, Klpeni Order: Neogstropod Fmily: Turinellide Tudil spirillus (Linneus, 1767) Fmily: Conide Conus milneedwrdsi Jousseume, 1894 Fmily: Fsiolriide Pleuroplo trpezium (Linneus, 1758) Fmily: Volutide Hrpulin rusi (Ligthfoot, 1786) Clss: Bivlvi Sulss: Pteriomorphi Order: Petinoid Fmily: Plunide Plun plent (Linneus, 1758) Sulss: Heterodont Order: Veneroid Superfmily: Crdioide Fmily: Crdiide Tridn mxim (Röding, 1798) Referenes Apte 2014 Appukuttn et l. (1989), Ro & Ro (1991), Apte (1998), Ro (2003), KSCSTE (2013), Apte (2014), Present study Ro & Ro (1991), Apte (1998), Ro (2003), KSCSTE (2013), Apte (2014), Present study Apte 2014, Present study Appukuttn et l. (1989), Ro & Ro (1991), Apte (1998), Ro (2003), KSCSTE (2013), Apte 2014, Present study Apte (1998), Apte (2014), Present study Ro & Ro (1991), Apte (1998), Ro (2003), KSCSTE (2013), Apte (2014), Present study Appukuttn et l. (1989), Ro & Ro (1991), Apte (1998), Ro (2003), KSCSTE (2013), Apte (2014), Present study Appukuttn et l. (1989), Ro & Ro (1991), Apte (1998), Ro (2003), KSCSTE (2013), Apte 2014, Present study Apte (2014) Apte (2014) Dog Chunk Shedule I Klpeni, Bitr Present study Glory of Indi Shedule I Not reorded Trpezium Horse Conh Vxillte Volute Window Pne Oyster Elongte Gint Clm Shedule IV Shedule IV Reorded from Lkshdweep; speifi lolity not mentioned. Reorded from Lkshdweep; speifi lolity not mentioned. Appukuttn et l. (1989), Ro & Ro (1991), Apte (1998), Ro (2003), KSCSTE (2013), Apte (2014), Present study Apte (2014) Apte (2014) Shedule IV Kvrtti Present study Shedule I Found round ll inhited islnds of Lkshdweep Appukuttn et l. (1989), Ro & Ro (1991), Apte (1998), Ro (2003), KSCSTE (2013), Present study 7258

7 Clssifition 22. Tridn squmos Lmrk, 1819 Common Nme Fluted Gint Clm Ctegory in WPA Shedule I Reords from Lkshdweep Agtti, Bngrm, Bitr, Chetlet 23. Hippopus hippopus (Linneus, 1758) Ber Pw Clm Shedule I Not Reorded 24. Clss: Cephlopod Sulss: Nutiloide Order: Nutilid Fmily: Nutilide Nutilus pompilius Linneus, 1758 Chmered Nutilus Shedule I Bitr Referenes Appukuttn et l. (1989), Present study Rmdoss (2003), Present study Imge 2. Hrpgo rthritius Röding - dorsl view; - ventrl view; - lterl view (sle = 1m) Imge 3. Lmis rot Link - dorsl view; - ventrl view; - lterl view (sle = 1m) nd spotted with rown, ut is overed over y drk rown periostrum. The interior of perture is smooth nd ornge-red in olour. Operulum slightly urved, rown nd its edges smooth. Shell length: mm. Remrks: This speies ws reorded from Lkshdweep y Apte (2014). In the present study speimens were reorded from Minioy, Klpeni, nd Kvrtti islnds. Rre in ourrene. Speimens were oserved t shllow tidl pools nd lgoons, round 5 10 m depth. Inluded in Shedule IV of WPA. Not listed in CITES. Not evluted in IUCN Red List of Thretened Speies. 4. Lmis trunt ([Lightfoot], 1786) (Imges 4 -i) Appukuttn et l. 1989, p.79; Venktrmn et l. 2012, p. 191; KSCSTE 2013, p. 146; Apte 2014, p. 59. Desription: Shells lrge nd mssive, ovte, with spire very otuse nd knotty. Four uppermost whorls re depressed, so s to give the spire trunted pperne, nd eh of the other whorls hve row of strong rounded knos. The ventrl side of the shell is extensively glzed. Columell nd the outer lip of the perture is nerly smooth. Outer lip with well-mrked stromoid noth nd six slender, hollow digittions. Inner lip with hevy, extensive llus overing most of the ventrl side of the ody whorl nd spire, inluding sometimes the pex in mture speimens. Siphonl nl forming wide nd modertely developed digittion nteriorly slightly ent towrds the right (Imge 4f). Operulum rown, hitinous, elongte nd slightly urved. Outside of shell rem, sometimes with spre light rown to tn spekles. Aperture white deep inside, outer lip nd ventrl llus remy pink, sometimes eoming purplish towrds the edges of the glzed re. In L. trunt the juvenile shells re long, with thin outer lip, whih is free from lws (Imges 4,). In lter stges the outer lip flres up (Imges 4,d) nd then develops digittions (Imges 4 e,f). In dults the outer lips eome thiker nd slightly urve outwrds in lter stges (Imges 4 h,i). Juveniles re esily distinguishle s the pex is flt, hene the nme trunt. Shell length: mm. 7259

8 e g h d f i Imge 4. Lmis trunt Lightfoot f - vrious life stges; g - dorsl view of dult shell; h - ventrl view of dult shell; i - lterl view of dult shell (sle = 1m) Remrks: This speies ws reorded only from the shllow wters round ll the inhited islnds of Lkshdweep (Appukuttn et l. 1989; KSCSTE 2013; Apte 2014). Common in pperne. They were found in res with sndy ottom. Inluded in Shedule IV of WPA. Not listed in CITES. Not evluted in IUCN Red List of Thretened Speies. 5. Lmis indomris Aott, 1961(Imges 5 -) Ro 2003, p. 149; Apte, 2014, p. 60 Desription: Shell ovte, tuerulted, nd trnsversely strited, with six knoed lil digittions nd long slender knoed siphonl digittion, whih is strongly urved to the right. The loe on the left side of the first digittion is either very muh redued or ent k round the pex of the shell. Digittions 4, 5 nd 6 re more stunted. Whorls Siphonl nl long, strongly urved to the right nd ering 4-5 wek knos. Aperture rther nrrow, qudrte nd deep within its solid purple. Shell greyish-white olour, slightly mottled with rown; throt sffron-oloured, nd oth the lips re purplish. Inside of outer lip with numerous rowded, white, slightly rised spirl lire whih end efore they reh the rod, smooth yellow ornge edge of the outer lip. Columell nd prietl wll rownish-purple nd overlid with out white to tn white, rised spirl lire. Operulum long, slightly urved, light rown, with 10 smll serrtions. Shell length: mm. Imge 5. Lmis indomris Aott - ventrl view; - dorsl view; - lterl view (sle = 1m) Remrks: Ro (2003) nd Apte (2014) reorded this speies from Lkshdweep, though the ext lolity ws not mentioned. We hve not found this speies from ny of the islnds nd it my e ssumed tht it is very rre in ourrene in these islnds. The popultion sttus of the speies needs to e studied in Lkshdweep. Ulrih Wieneke, Murnu, Germny 7260

9 Inluded in Shedule IV of WPA nd not listed in CITES. Not evluted y IUCN Red List of Thretened Speies, either. 6. Cssis ornut (Linneus, 1758) (Imges 6 -) Ro & Ro 1991, p. 277; Ro 2003, p. 201; Venktrmn et l. 2012, p. 197; KSCSTE 2013, p. 144; Apte, 2014, p. 87. Desription: Shell very solid, hevy, rotund, with lrge horn-like knos nd wide flt se. Lst whorl with 3 or 4 spirl rows of lrge tuerles, those t shoulder eing muh longer nd stouter thn the others. Outer surfe of whorls finely pitted, from numerous interseting xil nd spirl threds. Aperture long nd nrrow, hevily lloused. Outer lip thikened in rod nd flt shelf, with dorslly reurved outer edge nd with 5 7 strong teeth on its inner edge. Inner lip with n extensive llous shield, forming flnge long left side of ody whorl, nd produed over the spire to join the outer lip t its posterior end. Columell with irregulr spirl ridges. Operulum elongte-ovte, out onefourth the length of perture. Dorsl side nd spire greyish-white, often somewht spotted with light rown. Clloused ventrl side glossy rem or ornge, with two spirl rows of rown spots in the entrl region. Teeth nd ridges of the perture white. Outer lip with 6 or 7 rod pthes of rown on its dorsl side nd outer edge. Shell length: mm. Remrks: Also known s King Shell, this lrgest of the helmet shells ws reorded from the wters round Minioy, Klpeni, Androth nd Bngrm islnds of Lkshdweep (Ro & Ro 1991; Ro 2003; Venktrmn et l. 2012; KSCSTE 2013; Apte 2014). Inluded in Shedule I of WPA of Indi. Not listed in CITES. Not evluted in IUCN red list. This speies plys n importnt eosystem funtion in the islnds s the predtor of rown-of-thorns strfish (Anthster plni), whih feeds on orls (Poutiers 1998). 7. Cypressis ruf (Linneus, 1758) (Imges 7 -d) Ro & Ro 1991, p. 277; Ro 2003, p. 202; Venktrmn et l. 2012, p. 197; KSCSTE 2013, p 146;Apte 2014, p. 88. Desription: Shell thik nd hevy, ovte with strongly llous perturl side. Spire short, with hnnelled sutures nd fine nodulose spirl ris, ut lking xil vries. Body whorl with rounded shoulder, 3 or 4 spirl rows of rounded knos posteriorly, two spirl rows of xil ridges nteriorly, nd with 2 or 3 nodulose xil rilets etween them. Knos t shoulder not longer nd stouter thn the others. Aperture long nd nrrow, with n olique furrow t posterior end. Outer lip very thik, produed over the spire, with strong teeth long the inner edge. Inner lip strongly lirte, with n extensive, thik nd onvex llous shield. Columellr mrgin with n xil swelling ering strong teeth. Operulum irulr to ovl, smll, with onentri growth lines, out one-tenth the length of perture. Dorsl side nd spire ornge-rown or reddish, mottled nd lothed with drk nd light rown nd grey. Cllous ventrl side glossy, remy ornge, eoming deep red round nd inside the perture, nd stined with drk rown etween the ridges of the inner lip. Teeth nd ridges of the perture whitish. Remrks: This speies ws reorded from the shllow ostl wters of Minioy, Klpeni, Androth, Bngrm, nd Chetlet islnds (Ro & Ro 1991; Ro, 2003; d Imge 6. Cssis ornut Linneus - spire; - dorsl view; - ventrl view (sle = 1m) Imge 7. Cypressis ruf Linneus - lterl view; - ventrl view; - dorsl view; d - spire (sle = 1m) 7261

10 Venktrmn et l. 2012; KSCSTE 2013; Apte 2014). Inluded in Shedule I of WPA. Not listed in CITES. Not evluted in IUCN Red List of Thretened Speies. 8. Chroni tritonis (Linneus, 1758) (Imges 8, ) Ro & Ro 1991, p. 278; Rmkrishn & Dey 2003, p. 19; Ro 2003, p. 206; KSCSTE 2013,p. 144; Apte 2014, p. 91. Desription: Spire very tll, oupying more thn one-third of the totl length. Brod odywhorl with two prominent vries. Deeply grooved flttened spinl spirl ris nd osionl fine extr ris elow. Aperture roder, ordered y the reflexed mrgin of inner lip ering mny plits nd y the outer lip hving wvy mrgin. Shell remy pink with reddish or drk rown resents nd pthes. Aperture ornge rown with white hnnels etween teeth on outer lip. Shell length: mm. Remrks: Reorded erlier from Agtti, Amini, Chetlet, nd Klpeni islnds (Ro & Ro 1991; Ro 2003; Rmkrishn & Dey 2003, KSCSTE 2013; Apte 2014), this speies is found mong shllow orl ses nd on sndy ottoms. As well-known predtor of the rown-of-thorns strfish, it hs ritil role in orl reef eosystem. During the present survey none of the speimens ould e loted. Over exploittion, espeilly for shell trde ould e the reson for the deline of this speies in Lkshdweep. Inluded in Shedule I of WPA. Not listed in CITES despite requests from some ountries euse of the sene of trde dt. Not listed in IUCN Red List of Thretened Speies. As the predtor of rown-of-thorns Strfish (Anthster plni) whih feeds on orls, this speies plys mjor eosystem funtion in the islnds (Poutiers 1998). 9. Tlpri tlp (Linneus, 1758) (Imges 9, ) Ro & Ro 1991, p. 277; Apte 1998, p. 23; Ro 2003, p. 174; KSCSTE 2013,p. 149; Apte 2014, p. 76. Desription: Shell lrge, solid, lmost ylindril in outline, with widely onvex to nerly stright lterl mrgins nd slightly produed nterior nd posterior extremities. Dorsl side modertely swollen, without mntle groove. Ventrl side flt, rounded lterlly, with nrrow, stright perture whih is only little urved posteriorly. Aperturl teeth numerous, short nd fine. Teeth of inner lip not extending fr into the perture. Anterior longitudinl furrow of inner lip short nd rther deep. Colour pttern vrile. The dorsl surfe smooth nd shiny, rown or yellowish-rown, with three or four yellow or light rown trnsverse nds. The mrgins, se nd teeth ompletely drk rown or lk; intersties of teeth stined with rem or white. In the living owries mntle is greyish or lk, with long ylindril ppille. Shell length: mm. Remrks: This speies ws erlier reorded from Kvrtti nd Klpeni islnds (Ro & Ro 1991; Apte 1998; Ro 2003; KSCSTE 2013; Apte 2014). Inluded in Shedule I of WPA. Not listed in CITES. Not listed in IUCN Red List of Thretened Speies. During the study, one Imge 8. Chroni tritonis Linneus - dorsl view; - ventrl view (sle = 1 m) Imge 9. Tlpri tlp Linneus - dorsl view; - ventrl view (sle = 1m) 7262

11 speimen ws reorded from Klpeni. Detiled surveys re required for ssessing the sttus of this speies in Lkshdweep, s the olletion of owries is one of the mjor eonomi tivities of the lol popultion. Distinguishing this speies from the other speies is rther diffiult in the field. 10.Tudil spirillus (Linneus, 1767) (Imges 10 -) Desription: Shell modertely solid, pyriform nd with long, sinuous, smooth siphonl nl. Nuler whorls mmmillte, projeting, swollen, pinkish or yellowish. Spire flt. Spirl sulpture of numerous, rised threds whih re squrish nd rod on the se of the whorls. Lst whorl with squrish periphery, ounded ove y shrp, wvy keel nd elow y series of 6 8 round, low nodules. Aperture ovte-round, glossy, pinkish to purple within, nd ounded on the outer side y shrp lip. Inside of outer wll with numerous, fine, rised, spirl ridges. Prietl shield well-developed, smooth nd glossy white. Posterior nl region with swollen, utton-like, white llus. Bse of olumell with single, strong, spirl pli. Siphonl nl open long its length, long nd slightly sinuous. Colour of shell shiny rem to pinkish grey with sprse fleks of light-rown. Shell length: mm. Remrks: The present study reords this speies for the first time from Klpeni nd Bitr islnds of Lkshdweep. The reorded two speimens were oserved on sndy ottom. Further surveys re required to ssess the popultion sttus of this speies inluded in shedule IV of WPA. Not in CITES nd IUCN Red List of Thretened Speies. 11. Plun plent (Linneus, 1758) (Imges 11 -) Desription: Asymmetril with hrteristilly flt, thin, trnsluent shell. The vlves form n oriulr outline, whih is ompressed lterlly; the right vlve is lmost flt while the left is wekly onvex. Outer shell surfe mrked y projeting imrite lmelle. Inner shell surfe smooth nd polished. Generlly trnsluent nd olourless, growing more opque nd white with ge. Shell length: 120mm. Remrks: The present study mrks the reord of this speies for the first time from Kvrtti Islnd of Lkshdweep. One speimen ws oserved on sndy ottom. Further surveys re required to ssess the popultion sttus of this speies inluded in shedule IV of WPA. Not in CITES nd IUCN Red List of Thretened Speies. 12. Tridn mxim (Röding, 1798) (Imges 12 -) Ro & Ro 1991, p. 286; KSCSTE 2013,p. 150 Desription: Vlves hevy nd thik. Vlve mrgins undulte with out five generlly shrply tringulr extremities of ri intersties. Hinge line less thn hlf of shell length. Inequilterl vlves re elongte to shortotuse-tringulr. Rised externl vlve sulpture. Lrge yssl opening. Greyish-white shell tinted with yellow or pinkish-ornge. Bright lue, green or rown oloured mntle onels the distintively furrowed edges of shell. Imge 10. Tudil spirillus (Linneus) - dorsl view; - ventrl view; - spire (sle = 1m) Imge 11. Plun plent Linneus - dorsl shell; - ventrl shell; - dorsl view of oth shells opened (sle = 1m) 7263

12 Imge 12. Tridn mxim Röding - exterior of right vlve; - interior of left vlve; - ventrl view showing yssl orifie (sle = 1m) Shell length: mm. Remrks: It is one of the widespred sheduled speies reorded from lmost ll the islnds of Lkshdweep (Ro & Ro 1991; KSCSTE 2013). Apte (2013) reported on the eology, popultion dynmis 7264 Imge 13. Tridn squmos Lmrk - exterior of right vlve; - interior of left vlve; - ventrl view showing yssl orifie (sle = 1m) nd onservtion of T. mxim in the Lkshdweep Arhipelgo. Also known y the nme Smll Gint Clm, this speies grows on roks nd revies of orl reefs, usully tthed y the yssus threds. Inluded in shedule I of WPA. Not listed in CITES. Listed s Lower Risk in the IUCN Red List of Thretened Speies

13 (IUCN, 2013). 13. Tridn squmos Lmrk, 1819 (Imges 13 -) Appukuttn et l. 1989, p. 83. Desription: Vlves modertely thik nd hevy. Shell equilterl. Dorsl mrgin fn-shped in outline. Vlve mrgins undulte with 4 6 pointed to luntly rounded, renulted extremities of ri intersties. Hinge line hlf of shell length. Chrteristi rod lef-like projeting sles on primry folds of ris. Smll to medium sized yssl opening. Colour of shell tn or grey ut new growth is often white. Mntle olour ptterns quite vrile, rown, green, lue or purple oloured with lrge irregulr lothes. Shell length: mm. Remrks: Commonly referred to s sly lm, fluted lm or gint lm, this speies ws reorded from the Agtti, Bngrm, Bitr, nd Chetlet islnds y Appukuttn et l. (1989). We reorded this speies from Kvrtti Islnd. Detiled field surveys re required to relote the popultions round the vrious islnds of Lkshdweep. Inluded in Shedule I of WPA. Not listed in CITES. Listed s Lower Risk in the IUCN Red List of Thretened Speies (IUCN 2013). 14. Nutilus pompilius Linneus, 1758 (Imges 14, ) Rmdoss 2003, p.207. Desription: Lrge nd thik shell, with smooth surfe, polished nd mrked y reddish-rown wvy lines ginst remy kground. Prietl wll of perture lk. Shell spirlly oiled nd prtitioned internlly into series of gs-filled flottion hmers. The niml lives in the lrge externl shell. Below the hood pro trudes out 90 smll suk er less ten t les. Beneth, there is fun nel on tin ing two sep rte loes. Imge 14. Nutilus pompilius Linneus - dorsl view of shell; - lterl view of shell (sle 1 m) Shell length: 200mm Remrks: This speies is distriuted in the Indo-West Pifi; the Philippines, vi Indonesi nd New Guine to Fiji; north-estern nd north-western Austrli. In Indi this speies is reported only from Andmn nd Nior islnds. During the present study one ded speimen ws reorded from Bitr Islnd, from orl rok ottom. More reserh is wrrnted to estlish whether this speies tully lives round these islnds. CONSERVATION The threts to iodiversity of Lkshdweep, s summrized in the Ntionl Biodiversity Strtegy nd Ation Pln (NBSAP), n e due to: (i) the frgility of the islnd eosystem, (ii) the imposing of lolly unsuitle development progrmmes whih jeoprdize the eonomy nd eology of the islnds, nd (iii) the lk of knowledge out wht ws there retes lun in understnding the depth of iodiversity loss (MoEF & Klpvriksh 2004). As orl islnd eosystem, the entire iologil diversity is primrily dependent on orls. The pressure on the eosystem s well s iodiversity t present is minly of nthropogeni origin. Glol environmentl issues suh s limte hnge nd the pressure reted y inresing humn popultion nd demnd for nturl resoures rete host of threts to the sensitive toll islnds, lgoon nd the surrounding open oen (KSCSTE 2013). Elevted Se Surfe Tempertures (SSTs) used y El Nino Southern Osilltion (ENSO) nd limte hnge hve lredy reported to ffet the helth of the orl reef eosystem in some islnds (Arthur 2000). Despite the ft tht mrine molluss represent n estimted 23% of ll extnt mrine tx, onservtion of mrine molluss remins negleted glolly nd often informtion regrding the sttus of ommerilly exploited mrine molluss hs een overshdowed y the ollpse of finfish fishery (MMnus 1997). Reserh into the onservtion sttus of molluss hs so fr filed to reflet this importne, with miniml inlusion on the Red List of World Conservtion Union (IUCN) (Peters et l. 2013). Inlusion of 24 speies of mrine molluss under vrious shedules of the WPA notwithstnding, the reserh nd onservtion on these speies reeived little ttention in poliy douments. A mjority of the molluss listed in vrious shedules of WPA of Indi re preferred items in shell trde mrkets. High mrket demnd, oupled with lk of wreness nd indequte enforement were found to e the mjor 7265

14 driving fores ehind the illegl mrine urio trde (John et l. 2012). A lk of quntittive dt on undne of speies, rnges, hitt requirements, dispersl, nd onnetivity mong popultions (Chpmn 1999) remins the mjor hndip in ssessing the onservtion sttus of speies listed in vrious shedules of WPA. For exmple, the extirption of Gint Triton Chroni tritonis in the Indo- Pifi hs een ttriuted to over hrvesting (Moore & Ndoe 2008). Although there is no orgnised shell trde t present in Lkshdweep, mny of the speies re olleted for food. Further, the developmentl stges of sheduled molluss suh Hrpgo hirgr, H. rthriti nd Lmis spp. re often diffiult to identify in the field, whih indiretly filitte indisriminte olletion of these speies. Mny speies of Stromide, to whih the gener Hrpgo nd Lmis elong, re eten, nd sometimes n importnt soure of protein. This lso reitertes the need for reting more wreness mong the islnders regrding the sheduled speies of molluss. A poster on se shells of Lkshdweep proteted under vrious shedules of Wildlife (Protetion) At of Indi hs een prepred for reting wreness (Appendix 1). Aording to Peters et l. (2013) reserh is needed to ssess the thret from rre shell olleting towrds mollus popultion deline to determine wht mesures should e tken to enle this tivity to ontinue sustinly while t the sme time llowing for the protetion of vulnerle speies. While Indin WPA prevents olletion of nimls inluded in vrious shedules, reserh priority should lso fous on other molluss suh s owries nd otopuses whih re urrently olleted in lrge numers. Aording to Apte et l. (2010) ever inresing eonomi intertions etween the densely populted islnd ommunities nd the djoining orl reefs of Lkshdweep n indiretly ffet the sheduled Gint Clm (Trid spp.), rendering popultion monitoring impertive. Islnds re very sensitive eosystems. Hene strtegies should e dopted to integrte iodiversity into every developmentl pln, espeilly in the ontext of rpid eonomi development of Lkshdweep. Preprtion of people s iodiversity register for the islnd eosystems, s envisged in the Biologil Diversity At of Indi, would help in developing suitle mngement plns t the grss roots level. As eh islnd is seprte entity in terms of its iodiversity nd pressures on it, seprte mngement pln hs to e developed for eh islnd, with the help of lol ommunities, giving due importne for the sheduled speies nd other hevily exploited speies. The prtiiption of lol ommunities should lso e ensured for plnning nd deision mking with regrd to iodiversity. Currently, there re 31 MPAs in Indi represented under 33 ntionl prks nd snturies, overing n re of 627,121h. The only MPA in Lkshdweep is Piiti Wildlife Sntury (1h), inluded in the tegory II (Venktrmn et l. 2013). In Andmn nd Nior islnds, however, there re 15 MPAs overing n re of 67,254h (out 11% of the totl re of MPAs in Indi). Lkshdweep hs mny untouhed nd undistured pristine reefs like Suheli pr with 78.96km 2 of lgoon re, Bliypni pr with 57.46km 2 of lgoon re, Cheriypni pr with km 2 of lgoon re nd Perumul pr with 83.02km 2 of lgoon re, whih remins to e studied fully for relising the mgnitude of iodiversity. While in the Indin ontext MPAs re not speifi legl tegory, ntionl prks, snturies nd ommunity onservtion reserves delred either in seleted iodiverse islnds or delrtion of iosphere reserve overing the whole Lkshdweep Arhipelgo is strongly reommended for onservtion nd sustinle mngement of iodiversity for future genertions. REFERENCES Aditi, N. & D.A. Apte (2013). Artisnl otopus fishery: soioeonomis nd mngement, pp In: Venktrmn, K., C. Sivperumn & C. Rghunthn (eds). Eology nd Conservtion of Tropil Mrine Funl Communities. Springer Berlin Heidelerg, 481pp. Appukuttn, K.K., A. Chellm, A., K. Rmdoss, A.C.C. Vitor & M.M. Meiyppn (1989). Mollusn resoures, pp In: Suseeln, C. (ed.). Mrine Living Resoures of the Union Territory of Lkshdweep: An Inditive Survey with Suggestions for Development. Bulletin, 43, Centrl Mrine Fisheries Reserh Institute, Kohi, Kerl, 256pp. Apte, D.A. (1998). The Book of Indin Shells. Oxford University Press, Mumi, 115pp. Apte, D.A. (2009). Opisthornh fun of Lkshdweep Islnds, Indi with 52 new reords to Lkshdweep nd 40 new reords to Indi. Prt 1. Journl of the Bomy Nturl History Soiety 106: Apte, D.A. (2012). Field Guide to the Mrine Life of Indi - 1 st Edition. Stus Mudr Privte Limited Mumi, 502pp. Apte, D.A. (2012). Eology, popultion dynmis nd onservtion of the Gint Clm Tridn mxim (Röding, 1798) in the Lkshdweep Arhipelgo. PhD Thesis, University of Mumi, 183pp. Apte, D.A. (2014). Se Shells of Indi. An Illustrted Guide to Common Gstropods. Bomy Nturl History Soiety & Oxford University Press, Mumi, 197pp. Apte, D.A. & D. Sutirth (2010). Eologil determinnts nd stohsti flututions of Tridn mxim survivl rte in Lkshdweep Arhipelgo. Systemti nd Biodiversity 8(4): ; dx.doi.org/ / Apte, D.A., D. Sutirth & K.K. Idreesu (2010). Monitoring densities of the Gint Clm Tridn mxim in the Lkshdweep Arhipelgo. Mrine Biodiversity Reords 3: e78 1 9; S Apte, D.A., K.K. Idreesu & D. Sutirth (2012). Density estimtion of Tridn mxim in Lkshdweep Arhipelgo, pp In: Bhtt, J.R., J.K.P. Edwrd, D.J. Mintosh & B.P. Nilrtn (eds.). 7266

15 Corl Reefs of Indi - Sttus, Threts nd Conservtion Mesures. IUCN, 305pp. Apte, D.A. & B. Vishl (2014). New reords of opisthornhs from Lkshdweep, Indi (Mollus: Heterornhi). Journl of Thretened Tx 6(3): ; JoTT.o Apte, D.A., A. Kulkrni & D. Sutirth (2014). Gint Clm Tridn mxim from Lkshdweep Arhipelgo, Indi: Understnding Popultion Eology. LAP Lmert Ademi Pulishing, Germny, 308pp. Arthur, R. (2000). Corl lehing nd mortlity in three Indin reef regions during n El Niño southern osilltion event. Current Siene, 79: Chpmn, M.G. (1999). Are there dequte dt to ssess how well theories of rrity pply to mrine invertertes? Biodiversity nd Conservtion 8: ; /A: Chpmnn, A.D. (2009). Numers of Living Speies in Austrli nd the World d Fonse, G.A.B., R.A. Mittermeier & C.G. Mittermeier (2006). Conservtion of Islnd Biodiversity: Importne, Chllenges nd Opportunities. Centre for Applied Biodiversity Siene. Conservtion Interntionl, Arlington, 16pp. IUCN (2013). 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Indin Journl of Mrine Sienes 34 (1): Vishl, B. & D. Apte (2013). Current sttus of Indin opisthornh fun, pp In: Venktrmn, K., C. Sivperumn & C. Rghunthn (eds). Eology nd Conservtion of Tropil Mrine Funl Communities. Springer-Verlg Berlin Heidelerg, 481pp. Author Detils: Dr. A. Bijukumr is the Assoite Professor nd Hed of the Deprtment of Aquti Biology nd Fisheries, University of Kerl nd is speilized in txonomy nd iodiversity doumenttion. Mr. R. Rvinesh nd Ms. A.R. Arthi re reserh sholrs working in Deprtment of Aquti Biology nd Fisheries, University of Kerl nd pursuing their dotorl work on mollusn fun of Lkshdweep nd ivlves of west ost of Indi nd Lkshdweep respetively. Dr. K.K. Idreesu is the Sientist, working with Deprtment of Siene nd Tehnology, Kvrtti, Union Territory of Lkshdweep. Author Contriution: ABK ws the Prinipl Investigtor of the projet nd ws involved in txonomi identifition nd preprtion of the pper. RR, ARA nd KKI rried out field work in ll the islnds, identified the speies in ollortion with experts nd ssisted preprtion of the mnusript. 7267

16 Appendix 1. Poster on se shells of Lkshdweep proteted under Wildlife (Protetion) At of Indi 7268 Thretened Tx