Mudwhelks (Gastropoda: Potamididae) in mangrove forest of Dedap, Padang Island, Kepulauan Meranti District, Riau Province, Indonesia
Rofiza Yolanda, Asiah, Bunjamin Dharma
Potamididae is most common of the molluscan fauna of mangrove forests in the Indo-West Pacific area and in the past their identification has been problematic. These snails play important role in mangrove ecosystem. In general, the molluscan fauna of Indonesia is not well known and so a study of this kind is necessary. The aim of this study was to determine the species diversity of Potamididae in Dedap, Kepulauan Meranti District, Riau Province, Indonesia and to provide reliable morphological characters for identification, which are simple to use. The study was conducted from January to May 2015 with a random sampling method by handpicking at 10 stations by using 1 x 1 m2 the square transects in the mangrove forest. We recorded five species belonging to four genera of mudwhelks, namely Cerithidea obtusa, C. quoyii, Cerithideopsilla alata, Cerithideopsis malayensis and Telescopium telescopium.