International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences

Volume (2) - Issue (2), 2017 pp 90-94

Title

Food preference and feeding behaviour of the land snail Cryptozona bistrialis in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu India

Author

V. Valarmathi

Abstract

Food preference and feeding behavior of the land snail Cryptozona bistrialis were investigated under laboratory condition and natural habitat. Feeding behavior of snail showed that the snail was herbivorous/omnivorous and occasionally exhibits cannibalism. Their abundant in the domestic area and preferred plants with more water content were observed. The snails were very active both in the early morning and late evening which extend up to mid night. They were voraciously eating the food mostly in group. Feeding could be detected by the opening of mouth, movement of jaws on the food materials and lowering of either all four tentacles or only anterior two tentacles. They used the radula for scraping and engulfing the food. Food preference  of the snail  revealed  that out  of  the  12  food material offered,  carrots, cabbage, cucumber  and chow chow were  highly accepted.   The radish and papaya were moderately accepted while snake guard and cauliflower were rarely accepted. The beat root and spinach very rarely accepted and amaranthus and onion were completely rejected. Hence, snails preferred more succulent vegetable and fruits under laboratory condition.

Keywords

Food preference, Feeding behavior, Cryptozona bistrialis, Herbivorous, Omnivorous, Cannibalism.

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Article History

Received on 22/03/2017, Accepted on 02/04/2017, Published on 10/04/2017