The first comprehensive guide to the molluscs of the Gulf of Mannar — The Molluscs of Gulf of Mannar, India and Adjacent Waters: A Fully Illustrated Guide — provides a detailed pictorial portrayal of 1041 species of molluscs, including 722 gastropods, 287 bivalves, 7 scaphopods, 21 cephalopods and 4 polyplacophorans. This field guide sums up two decades of biodiversity surveys and explorations initiated by two premier institutions in India, Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute (SDMRI), and the Department of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries, University of Kerala. The spectacular diversity of molluscs found in the Gulf of Mannar and adjacent waters in India is described with excellent photographs in multiple views, facilitating easy species identification also by laypeople. The habitats, diversity, ecosystem services, ecology and commercial value of molluscs are also highlighted. This fully illustrated guide will assist the academicians, researchers, conchologists, divers, students, civil society groups, and the general public in realizing the diversity of exquisitely biodiverse marine molluscs of the Gulf of Mannar, besides appreciating the need for their conservation for future generations. Contents: Foreword viPreface viiiAbout the authors xvAbout the editors xviiiGeneral informaion 1The Gulf of Mannar 34Molluscs of Gulf of Mannar 42GASTROPODA 47Eoacmaeidae (True Limpets) 57Nacellidae (True Limpets) 58Chilodontaidae (Top Shells) 59Fissurellidae (Keyhole Limpets/ Slit Limpets) 60Halioidae (Abalones/ Ear Shells) 62Trochidae (Top Shells) 63Angariidae (Dolphin Shells) 68Calliostomaidae (Top Shells) 69Colloniidae 70Lioiidae (Wheel Shells) 71Phasianellidae (Pheasant Shells) 72Tegulidae (Top Shells) 73Turbinidae (Turban Shells) 74Neriidae (Nerites Shells) 76Phenacolepadidae (Sugar Limpets) 81Cerithiidae (Creeper Shells) 82Modulidae (Knobby Snails) 88Pachychilidae 89Planaxidae (Planaxids/ Clusterwinks) 90Potamididae (Mud Creepers; Horn Snails; Mud Whelks) 91Siliquariidae (Worm Shells) 92Turritellidae (Tower Shells) 94Capulidae (Cap Snails/ Cap Shells) 96Epitoniidae (Wentletraps/ Spiral Staircase Shells) 97Hipponicidae (Hoof Snails/ Hoof Limpets) 99Litorinidae (Winkles/ Periwinkles) 100 icidae (Moon Snails/ Necklace Shells) 102Triphoridae (Counterclockwise Shells) 108Vermeidae (Worm Snails) 109Rissoinidae (Floater Snails) 111Zebinidae 112Vitrinellidae (Circular Snails) 113Vanikoridae (Vanikoro Shells) 114Eulimidae (Eulimid Snails) 115Calyptraeidae (Slipper Snails/ Slipper Limpets/ Cup-and-Saucer Snails/ Chinese Hat Snails) 116Cypraeidae (Cowries) 117Ovulidae (Cowry Allies/ False Cowries/ Egg Cowries) 130Triviidae (Bean Cowries) 132Veluinidae (Veluinids) 133Ficidae (Fig Shells) 134Xenophoridae (Carrier Shells/ Shell-Collecing Shells) 136Strombidae (True Conchs/ Conch Shells/Strombs) 138Rostellariidae (Spindle-Strombs/ Elegant Shells) 144Seraphidae (Bullet Shells) 146Tonnidae (Tun Shells) 147Bursidae (Frog Shells) 149Cassidae (Helmet Snails/ Bonnet Snails) 153Charoniidae (Triton’s Trumpet/ Triton Snail) 158Cymaiidae (Triton Shells) 159Personidae (Distorted Whelks) 165Babyloniidae (Ivory Shells/ Babylon Whelks/ Spiral Babylon/ Dove Eggshell/ Baigae/ Isobai/ Puramutai) 166Harpidae (Harp Snails/ Morum Shells) 168Marginellidae (Margin Shells) 170Voluidae (Volute Shells) 172Cancellariidae (Nutmegs/ Basket Shells) 174Colubrariidae (False Tritons) 176Columbellidae (Dove Shells) 177Fasciolariidae (Tulip Snails/ Spindle Snails) 180Melongenidae (Whelks/ Melon/ Crown Conches) 184Nassariidae (Dog Whelks/ Basket Shells) 185 Pisaniidae (Whelk Shells) 192Prodoiidae (Cancellated Whelk Shells) 195Tudiclidae (Spiral Tudicla Shells) 196Muricidae (Murex Snails/ Rock Snails/ Coral Shells) 197Costellariidae (Ribbed Miters/ False Mitres) 209Turbinellidae (Chank Shells/ Vase Shells) 211Mitridae (Mitres/ Ribbed Mitres) 213Olividae (Olive Shells) 219Ancillariidae (Ancilla Snails) 223Conidae (Cone Shells) 225Borsoniidae 248Clavatulidae 249Drilliidae 250Pseudomelatomidae 251Cochlespiridae 252Clathurellidae 253Raphitomidae 254Turridae (Turrid Shells) 255Terebridae (Auger Shells/ Auger Snails) 259Architectonicidae (Staircase Shells/ Sundials) 263Acteonidae (Barrel Bubble Snails) 266Aplustridae (Bubble Shells) 267Ringiculidae 268Pleurobranchidae (Side Gilled Sea Slugs) 269Dorididae (Sea Lemon) 270Discodorididae (Sea Lemon) 271Polyceridae 274Chromodorididae (Colorful Sea Nymph) 275Hexabranchidae 279Phyllidiidae (Phyllid Nudibranchs) 280Dendrodorididae (Dorids Nudibranchs/ Radula-Less Dorids) 282Bornellidae 283Embletoniidae 284Arminidae 285Trinchesiidae 286Aeolidiidae 287Facelinidae 288Samlidae 289Umbraculidae 290Bullidae (Bubble Shells) 291Tornainidae 292Haminoeidae (Bubble Shells) 293Scaphandridae (Scaphandrid Bubble Shells) 295Philinidae 296Aplysiidae (Sea Hares) 297Cavoliniidae (Sea Buterlies) 299Oxynoidae (Sap-Suckers) 300Cylindrobullidae (Paper-Bubble) 301Volvatellidae (Sap-Sucking Slugs) 302 Plakobranchidae 303Hermaeidae 305Siphonariidae (False Limpets or siphon limpets) 306Pyramidellidae (Pyramid Shells) 307Amathinidae 308Ellobiidae (Air-Breathing Snails) 309Onchidiidae 310BIVALVIA 313Nuculidae (Nut Clams) 325Solemyidae (Awning Clams) 326Nuculanidae 327Malleiidae 328Yoldiidae (Yoldias) 329Myilidae (Mussels) 330Arcidae (Ark Shells) 334Noeiidae (Ark Like Shells) 340Cucullaeidae (False Ark Shells) 341Glycymerididae (Dog Cockles/ Bitersweets) 342Limopsidae 344Pteriidae (Wing Oysters) 345Margariidae (Pearl Oysters) 347Vulsellidae 348Isognomidae 349Malleidae (Hammer Oysters/ Sponge Fingers) 351Pinnidae (Pen Shells/ Fan Shells/ Wing Shells/ Razor Shells) 352Ostreidae (Oysters) 355Gryphaeidae (Foam Oysters/ Honeycomb Oysters) 358Anomiidae (Jingle Shells/ Mermaid’s Toenails/ Saddle Oysters) 359Placunidae (Windowpane Oysters/ Windowpane Shells/ Kapis Shells) 360Pecinidae (Scallops) 361Propeamussiidae (Glass Scallops/ Mud scallops/ Mud Pectens) 365Spondylidae (Spiny Oysters) 366Plicatulidae (Kiten’s Paws) 369Limidae (File Clams) 370Lucinidae (Lucina Clams) 371Cardiidae (Litle Heart Clams) 375Crassatellidae 377Cardiidae (Heart Shells/ Cockles) 378Trapeziidae 384Chamidae (Jewel Boxes/ Jewel Box Clams) 385Galeommaidae (Litle White Clams) 387Mactridae (Trough Shells/ Duck Clams) 389Mesodesmaidae (Wedge Clams) 393Tellinidae 394Donacidae (Bean Clams/ Wedge Shells) 399Psammobiidae (Sunset Clams) 401Semelidae (Furrow Clams) 403Solecuridae (Short Razor Clams) 404Ungulinidae (Furrow Clams) 405Veneridae (Venus Clams) 406Glossidae (Heart Cockles/ Heart Shells) 422Corbulidae (Basket Clams) 423Dreissenidae (Zebra Mussels/ False Mussels/ Platform Mussels) 424Pholadidae (Shipworms/ Piddocks/ Angelwings) 425Solenidae (Razor Shells) 426Pharidae(Razor Shells) 428Gastrochaenidae (Flask Shells) 429Penicillidae (Watering Pot Shell) 430Euciroidae 431Laternulidae (Lantern Clams) 432SCAPHOPODA 435Dentaliidae (Tusk Shells or Tooth Shells) 439Laevidentaliidae (Tusk Shells) 441Gadilidae (Gadilinid Tusk Shell) 442CEPHALOPODA 445Nauilidae (Chambered or Pearly Nauiluses) 451Spirulidae (Ram’s Horn Squid) 452Sepiidae (True Cutle Fishes) 453Loliginidae (Pencil Squids) 455Thysanoteuthidae (Diamondback Squid) 457Argonauidae (Paper Nauilus) 458Octopodidae 459 POLYPLACOPHORA 465Acanthochitonidae (Acanthochitonid Chitons) 469Chitonidae (True Chitons) 470Ischnochitonidae (Ischnochitonid Chitons) 471Mopaliidae (Mopaliid Chitons) 472Glossary 474Addiional Reading 486Common name index 495Scieniic name index 506