On Lithophaga (diberus) bisulcata a mytilid borer Causing damage to the commercially important Gastropod shells

Abstract

Lithophaga (Dibeius) bisulcata d' Orbigny was found to bore into the gastropod shells, Xancus pynim (Linne) and Fasciolaria trapezium (Linne), causing good amount of destruction to the shells. The taxonomy, shell structure and the details of the burrowing habit of this species are discussed in detail. The present report of this species from the southeast coast of India is the first record of this species from Indian Ocean and it is for the first time reported to bore into Xancus and Fasciolaria. Since this borer causes damage to commercially important gastropod shells, much attention is paid to understand the details of boring mechanism. It is assumed that they make burrow initially by chemical means and later by mechanical rotating movement of the shell within the burrow.