Marine Gastropods of Kerala Handbook

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It gives me a great pleasure to write this foreword for an important publication being brought out by the Kerala State Biodiversity Board, "Marine Gastropods of Kerala - Hand book" authored by Drs. J.B. Franklin and K.P, Laladhas.

The study and knowledge on marine gastropods, as evidenced by the authors, is critical for us to understand marine biodiversity. It may be pertinent to mention that apart from being important members of the web of life in marine ecosystems, marine gastropods also contributed enormously to medical science. Research based on the gastropods fetched two noble prizes in Medicine for medical doctors who researched the unique chemical profile of these unique life forms.

It is now appropriate, especially in India, that we combine our efforts to know the diversity of life around us but also spend time and energy in deciphering the special contributions such life forms could make to human development.

lam hopeful this Handbook would be used by researchers and students as well as local people in understanding the diversity of gastropods so that renewed interests are possible to ensure knowing and managing the biodiversity makes a development sense.

Ten years of experience in field trips all along the Indian Coast proved the compelling need for such a handbook. No comprehensive handbook on the common marine gastropods of the Kerala Coast exists and there is a demand for such a guide. This book provides detailed information for the species identification of 80 common marine gastropods with more than 150 colourful photographs. This complete and concise handbook will enable you to cut through the complex process of species identification. The taxonomical descriptions, biological and ecological informations are scattered throughout the scientific literature. Each species entry combines a precise description with photographs to highlight the shells key characters and distinguishing features. To help the beginners in the initial stage of identification, this book provides a visual identity key that illustrates the difference between the major classes of marine gastropods by shape and guides you to the exact species access. The identification of individual species of gastropods is simple and precise.

We wish that this well illustrated manual will serve as an important informative document on marine gastropods of Kerala Coast and an essential guide to enthusiasts of all ages. It would be impossible to include all the species that could be found in the Kerala coast but most people should be able to find what they are looking for.

**Sample Pages**