Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Periostracum of the gastropod Hemifusus pugilinus Natural inhibitor of boring and encrusting organisms.

Volume 33 Issue 1&2

S. Ananda Kumar and K. Ayyakkannu

Abstract

The gastropod H. pugilinus has a thick pale greenish brown coloured periostracum which inhibits settling and growth of many borers and epizoans. The inhibitory effect of periostracum to borers and epizoans contributes to the snail's energetic efficiency by reducing the energy utilised for shell repair caused by borers and reduces the weight of encrusters and other epizoans carried during the snail's movement. Moreover, the periostracum forms an obstacle to borers and hence to shell damage. Further, it acts to protect the snail from its predators by way of camouflage by trapping mud and sand in between the hairs. Thus in the molluscs a superior antifouling system can be established through a clear understanding of encruster inhibitor properties. In the present study the morphology of the periostracum of H. pugilinus was observed with SEM and had been discussed. It's functional significance was correlated with occurrence and abundance of various epizoans, encrusters and borers found associated with H. pugilinus.

Date : 31-12-1991