Marine Shells of Goa : A Guide to Identification

257 Pages·2017·19.509 MB·English

by  Sonak, Sangeeta M

Sangeeta M. Sonak
Marine Shells
of Goa
A Guide to Identification
Marine Shells of Goa
Sangeeta M. Sonak
Marine Shells of Goa
fi
A Guide to Identi cation
123
Sangeeta M.Sonak
Centrefor Environment andNatural
ResourceManagement (CENRM)
Panaji, Goa
India
and
SRUJAN
Caranzalem, Goa
India
ISBN978-3-319-55097-8 ISBN978-3-319-55099-2 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-55099-2
LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2017935549
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Thebookisdedicatedtomyson,Eeshan,who
actually began writing of this book.
Preface
The urge to say something, share useful knowledge upon a subject, is matched
perhaps,bytheurgetoknowsomethingonasubject.Itisbasicallytheseurgesthat
have served as impetus to write this book on Conchology, the study of shells
produced by living creatures called molluscs.
Conchology isconcerned with study ofshells; andMalacology, with shells and
creatures within (molluscs). As compared to Conchology, Malacology necessarily
involves much greater scientific and technical literature. At times, these factors
rendersuchstudyinsipidandunappetizingtomany.Conchology,toagreatextent,
involves collection, classification and the appreciation of the structure and designs
of shells. Therefore, at least to some extent, this is a recreational activity for those
whoseekintellectualindulgenceinthesewonderfulobjectsofthesea.Thisbookis,
therefore, an attempt to present the shells of Goa to scientific researchers and
amateurshellcollectorsalike,sothattheyfindinthesewonderfulobjectsofthesea,
something useful and interesting in their respective pursuits. The book seeks to tie
knots between popular science and research, science and hobby, and science and
art.
This book is intended not only as a field guide to shells of Goa, but also the
presentation is aimed to offer a delightful learning experience to an amateur shell
collector. With this objective, the photographs of the shells presented in this book
are, as far as possible, ‘in situ’ photographs of shells in the same condition as
actuallyfoundonthebeachesofGoa.Shellcollectionoffersaverymeaningfuland
informative pursuit to all those who seek pleasure in collecting these beautiful
colourful objects during their leisure hours. From children to aged and from
amateurs to professionals, people from various strata of the society enjoy shell
collection.Thethrilloffindingthedesiredshellissometimescomparedtothethrill
of a hunt. The book will serve those who desire to learn science without any
previous knowledge of the subject, with a small parcel of shells that they collect
from the seashores of Goa.
Quest to bring science out of the laboratories and research papers of the aca-
demiaintothelivesofpeoplehasguidedwritingofthisbook.Themainchallenge
inpresentingthisbookwastoachieveabalance,sothatthepresentationisnottoo
vii
viii Preface
scientificandtechnicaltomakeitunexcitingtotheamateurshellcollectororbereft
ofscientificclassificationandreferences,tomakeituninterestingtoacademics.The
focus of the book is shells and not molluscs. The objective of this book is to
introduceshellheritageandinculcateandencouragecuriosityandscientificinterest,
not just among conchologists, but also local and tourist beach goers.
The book is divided into five chapters. Chapter 1 is aimed at familiarizing
readerstoshellsandmolluscs,organismsthatproduceshells.Simple,non-technical
languagewithglossaryofsomescientifictermswillhelpreadersinthiseffort.Goa,
though quite famous for its sun, sand and sea, is also a shell collectors’ paradise.
Chapter 2 introduces Goa and her shell habitats, with picturesque coastline and
vibrant ecosystems, to the shell collectors. Identification of shell specimen is pre-
sented in Chap. 3. As written earlier, the aim is to help an amateur shell collector
with identification of the shell specimen.
Shells have inspired not only scientific research but also art and culture. The
colours,thedesignandtheornamentationhaveservedassourceforart,cultureand
even architecture. Chapter 4 on shell art and shell craft dwells upon the status of
shellartandshellcraftinGoa.However,IwishtopointoutthatIdonotsubscribe
or encourage intense shell collection or killing, harming of any individual mollusc
for its shell.
Chapter 5 deals with some interesting facts about shells such as importance of
shellsandliteraryworkrelatedtoshellsandtheirwriters.Lastlyisanappendixthat
gives a collection of some common quotes on shells. Finally, the book concludes
with a glossary explaining the technical terms used in the text.
A part of this book has received small amount of financial support from
Department of Science, Technology and Environment (DSTE), Government of
Goa. I wish to acknowledge Government of Goa and Mr. Levinsen Martins, and
Mr. S. Kotwale Directors, DSTE for the support.
I gratefully acknowledge contribution of Dr. Deepak Apte, Chief Operating
Officer,BombayNaturalHistorySociety,Mumbai,whovalidatedmyidentification
of shell species.
I must express my gratitude to Kishore Lokre for the time he spent in reading
chaptersdespitehisbusyschedule.Dr.SubodhKerkarsharedhisworkwithmeand
offered excellent photographs of his work that are presented in this book.
Rod LeGear, Vice President, Kent Archeological Society, shared their work on
Shell Grotto and also forwarded photographs of the Grotto for publication in the
book. I sincerely acknowledge Kent Archeological Society and Rod LeGear for
this.
Darryl Pereira, Managing Director, Reira Ventures, Saligao Goa, contributed
lovely photographs of some beaches of Goa such as Colva, Agonda, Chapora,
Vagator, Uttorda and Betalbatim. My friend, Dr. Prabha Devi from National
Institute of Oceanography (NIO), helped me in collection of sea shells. Mr. Carlo
EuricoSantanadaSilvasharedinformationandphotographofhishousewithshell
windows, ‘Sat Buruza ghor’. Col. Leena Gurav introduced me to Assam Riffles
Museum and traditional dress of Naga tribes with cowries.
Preface ix
ImustalsoexpressmygratitudetomycolleaguesatCentreforEnvironmentand
NaturalResourceManagement(CENRM)andSRUJANfortheirimmensesupport
to the project. Field assistance from Mr. J Kandolkar in collection of shells and
laboratoryassistancefromBharatiincleaning ofshells willberemembered.Many
people have helped me in writing of this book. It is not possible to acknowledge
each one by name here; however, their contribution is much appreciated.
As the book was going through its final stages of production, we were deeply
painedattheuntimelyandsuddendeathofmybrother-in-law,SatishSonak,on7th
April 2017.Satishwasaconstant source ofencouragementandsupport.Thebook
hasonepictureofamodelofaGoanwindowwithshells,presentedtomebySatish
and his wife Harshada. Thank you, Satish and Harshada.
It was my husband, Mahesh, who inspired me to write this book. From begin-
ning to end, Mahesh’s support and motivation to this endeavour is immense. My
sister-in-law, Sushama Sonak, with her vast experience at National Book Trust,
New Delhi, helped me with several interesting shell facts and also critically edited
someofthechapters.Writingofthisbookfollowsnostalgicmemoriesofourson’s,
Eeshan’s, childhood days. Mahesh and I enjoyed watching him collect shells on
various beaches of Goa, during his childhood. Even today, he is fascinated by sea
shells,whathecalls‘wondersofthesea’.Itishewhoactuallybeganwritingofthis
book. I dedicate this book to Eeshan and to these lovely memories.
Panaji, India Sangeeta M. Sonak
Contents
1 Molluscs and Their Shells. ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 1
1.1 Introduction .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 1
1.2 Phylum Mollusca .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 2
1.3 Various Marine Habitats of Molluscs.. .... .... .... ..... .... 4
1.4 Molluscan Shell . .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 5
1.5 Classification of Molluscs Based on Shells.. .... .... ..... .... 6
1.5.1 Class Monoplacophora .. .... .... .... .... ..... .... 6
1.5.2 Class Polyplacophora ... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 7
1.5.3 Class Aplacophora.. .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 7
1.5.4 Class Scaphopoda .. .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 7
1.5.5 Class Cephalopoda . .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 8
1.5.6 Class Gastropoda... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 8
1.5.7 Class Bivalvia..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 8
1.6 Extinct Classes of Molluscs . .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 9
1.7 Shells of Class Gastropoda.. .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 10
1.7.1 Structure and Description of a Gastropod Shell..... .... 10
1.7.2 Classification of Gastropoda .. .... .... .... ..... .... 11
1.7.3 Shells of Class Bivalvia . .... .... .... .... ..... .... 15
1.7.4 Structure and Description of a Bivalve Shell.. ..... .... 15
1.7.5 Classification of Bivalvia. .... .... .... .... ..... .... 17
1.7.6 Further Subdivision of Veneridae .. .... .... ..... .... 20
1.8 Concluding Remarks . ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 21
References.. .... .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 22
2 Shell Habitats of Goa .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 25
2.1 Introduction to Goa .. ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 25
2.2 Ecology of Goa . .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 27
xi
xii Contents
2.3 Coastline of Goa. .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 33
2.3.1 Beaches of Goa.... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 34
2.4 History of Shells of Goa.... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 50
References.. .... .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 51
3 Cataloguing of Shells. .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 53
3.1 Introduction .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 53
3.2 Classification of Shells..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 56
References.. .... .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 182
4 Shell Art and Shell Craft of Goa.... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 185
4.1 Masterpieces of the World .. .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 186
4.1.1 Shells as Signifiers . .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 186
4.1.2 Margate Shell Grotto.... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 190
4.2 Shells in Indian Sculpture... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 193
4.3 Shell Art and Shell Craft of Goa . .... .... .... .... ..... .... 194
4.3.1 Shell Windows of Goa .. .... .... .... .... ..... .... 194
4.3.2 Kaavi Art of Goa .. .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 197
4.3.3 Shells in the Sand Art of Goa. .... .... .... ..... .... 198
4.3.4 Shell Paintings of Goa... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 200
4.3.5 Shell Art at Museum of Goa.. .... .... .... ..... .... 200
4.3.6 Shell Craft of Goa.. .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 203
4.3.7 Shell festival of Goa or Tisreache fest... .... ..... .... 210
4.4 Uses of Shells by Humans Since Antiquities .... .... ..... .... 210
4.5 Fossil Shells of Marine Molluscs Found in Himalayas. ..... .... 211
4.6 Conservation of Molluscs... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 214
References.. .... .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 216
5 Some Interesting Known and Unknown Facts About Shells ... .... 219
5.1 Importance of Molluscan Shells.. .... .... .... .... ..... .... 220
5.1.1 To Living Organisms ... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 220
5.1.2 Coastal Processes .. .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 220
5.1.3 Climatic Conditions. .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 221
5.1.4 Providing Links to Evolution . .... .... .... ..... .... 221
5.1.5 Biostratigraphy .... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 222
5.1.6 Anthropological Studies . .... .... .... .... ..... .... 222
5.1.7 Human Use.. ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 222
5.1.8 Rituals and Ceremonies.. .... .... .... .... ..... .... 225
5.1.9 History and Mythology.. .... .... .... .... ..... .... 226
5.1.10 Religion. .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 226
5.1.11 Ethnography Such as Place Names, Person Names
and Deities .. ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 227
5.1.12 Human Culture .... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... 227
5.1.13 Paintings, Murals and Other Forms of Art ... ..... .... 229