Mangrove clam:
The ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has successfully achieved captive breeding of the mangrove clam (Geloina erosa).
- Mangrove clams, commonly known as mud clams, locally called ‘Kandal Kakka’ in northern Kerala.
- It belongs to the genus Polymesoda or Geloina.
- They are found in muddy, brackish and even nearly freshwater regions within mangrove swamps.
- These are widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific region.
- It is a burrowing bivalve inhabiting organic-rich muddy substrates in intertidal mangrove ecosystems.
- This species display remarkable tolerance, enabling them to thrive across a broad spectrum of salinity levels.
- It is a filter-feeding species, primarily active during low-tide immersion stages characterized by frequent inundation.
- It plays a crucial ecological role by recycling nutrients, stabilising sediments and strengthening mangrove ecosystems.
- Threats: In India, particularly along the east coast and in island regions, wild stocks have been steadily declining due to indiscriminate harvesting, habitat degradation, pollution and coastal development.
