Invasion of Living Fossil Bivalve, Dosinia japonica (Reeve, 1850) along the Indian Coast

Phylum Mollusca is the second largest group of invertebrates and comprises soft-bodied animals. They occur in diverse habitats such as freshwater, estuarine, marine, terrestrial and arboreal. Benthic organisms are living on or in the substratum of water bodies. Many organisms are permanently attached to the bottom. Among molluscan species, bivalves are larger and thus more visible. They exhibit a variety of body shapes, reproductive modes and feeding styles¹. Bivalves are filter-feeding organisms and can purify silted marine waters²; they form an important link between the consumers and primary detritus and thus play significant role in nutrient recycling.