EDIBLE FRESH WATER MOLLUSCS DIVERSITY IN THE DIFFERENT WATER BODIES OF GANGARAMPUR BLOCK, DAKSHIN DINAJPUR, WEST BENGALTapan Sarkar, Sukanta Debnath, Bratindra Krishna Das and Mithun DasAbstract Objectives of the study were to investigate the abundance and diversity indices of fresh water molluscs in the River Punarbhaba and different canals, ponds, paddy fields and ditches. To investigate the edible fresh water molluscs abundance and diversity indices at the River Punarbhaba and different canals, ponds, paddy fields and ditches. A survey was conducted at five sampling sites of Gangarampur block with hand picking and quadrate method. Data were also collected from local market. Fresh water molluscs were identified with standard references and then preserved in alcohol. A total of five edible fresh water molluscs were reported from Gangarampur Block. Snails were abundant in monsoon season. Most abundant species was Bellamya bengalensis (Lamarck, 1882). Paddy fields, canals, ponds and ditches were rich in fresh water edible molluscs in comparison to the river Punarbhava. Maximum Shanon diversity index was recorded at site 1. Abundance of snails drastically decreased in winter season at all the sites. Pilaglobusa and Bellamya bengalensis have high demand among the people. Overexploitation from the wild may leads to reduction in number of fresh water snails. Farming of edible snails may be the alternate pathway of mitigating the demand. |