A Checklist of Marine Ornamental Molluscs of India: A Case Study from Dwarka and Bet-Dwarka, Gujarat

Abstract

Marine molluscs are economically very important and they are exploited by men for various purposes since the prehistoric times. Manufacture of ornaments is an age-old industry in the south and south-east India and molluscs as an ornament or souvenir are still in high demand. Although there is plenty of literature on the trade and economy of ornamental shells, exploitation of ornamental molluscs is less studied and limited to regions in the south and south-east India. The ornamental molluscs is widely traded in pilgrims places like Dwarka, Somnath and all along the coast of Gujarat, and with the exception of Turbinella pyrum (the chank shell), there is no literature available on ornamental mollusc taxonomy, utilization and trade in Gujarat. This is the first study on ornamental molluscs from Gujarat. We have reviewed the available literature on ornamental molluscs of India and established a comprehensive checklist as there is no checklist available for ornamental molluscs of India. A total 136 species were recorded as ornamental molluscs in India. Of these shells, 118 species were listed by reviewing the literature and 33 ornamental molluscs were added from on-site observations in which 18 species were recorded for the first time from the study area. A total of 11 species among the 136 species were protected under wildlife protection act 1972. Different use of ornamental species was studied and classified accordingly. With respect to families, the majority of contributions were from Cypraeidae (7 species) followed by Muricidae (3 species), Turbinellidae (2 species), Strombidae (2 species) and Cardiidae (2 species). The major source of ornamental imports was from south India with some souvenirs collected from nearby intertidal areas and sold by local vendors as whole shells. Due to the extensive trade of ornamental shells, there is a need to study the degree of exploitation of ornamental molluscs in India, particularly in Gujarat.

Keywords

• conservation
• intertidal
• diversity
• shell craft industries
• exploitation