Species and Distribution of Land Snails in Phuket and Adjacent Islands

Authors

  • Phuripong Meksuwan Science Program (Biology), Faculty of Science and Technology, Phuket Rajabhat University, Ratsada, Muang, 83000
  • Saisanit Phongsuwan Science Program (Biology), Faculty of Science and Technology, Phuket Rajabhat University, Ratsada, Muang, 83000
  • Pongrat Dumrongrojwattana Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Burapha University, Bangsaen, Chonburi, 20131

Abstract

                A study of species and distribution of land snails in 15 sites in Phuket Island and 5 sites in adjacent Islands was carried out. The snails were collected by hands from their microhabitats, for example, under leaf litter, under rocks, and in trees, during January 2017 – October 2018. Living snails were suffocated and fixed with 70% ethanol, while shells were cleaned and air dried. The fixed snails and shells were identified and photographed. In this study, a total of 13 families, 20 genera, 26 species of land snails, including 22 species from Phuket Island and 18 species from adjacent Islands, were identified. The snails that showed widest distribution was Cryptozona siamensis recorded in 12 sampling sites, followed by Cyclophorus cf. expansus and Leptopoma nitidum found in 12 sites each. The highest number of species was in Bang Pae waterfall and Ton Sai waterfall recorded 13 species each. In addition, the present study recognized genus Sulfurina and                L. nitidum as a new record to Thailand, and Diplommatina sp. as a tentative new species. Keywords: diversity, molluscs, Thailand

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Published

2020-01-14