🐌 Mudwhelk (Telescopium telescopium) – The Spiral Scavenger of Sundarban Tidal Flats

The Mudwhelk, scientifically known as Telescopium telescopium, is a large, spiral-shelled gastropod mollusk commonly found in the muddy intertidal zones of the Sundarbans. This slow-moving, algae-scraping snail is a vital player in mangrove nutrient cycling and a cultural and ecological icon of tropical estuarine environments. With its distinct elongated shell and muddy camouflage, it helps clean detritus, support food chains, and even serve traditional medicine and food in Southeast Asia.

🏷 Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Phylum: Mollusca

• Class: Gastropoda

• Order: Sorbeoconcha

• Family: Potamididae

• Genus: Telescopium

• Species: T. telescopium

🔍 The name “Telescopium” refers to the long, tapering conical shape of its shell, resembling a telescopic lens or instrument.

🔬 Morphology & Physical Characteristics

• Shell Size: Can grow up to 9–12 cm in length.

• Shape:

  • Long, pointed, tightly coiled shell with numerous whorls.

  • Thick, strong shell with concentric ridges and dark grey to blackish color.

• Operculum: A hard plate that seals the opening when the snail retracts, protecting it from predators and dehydration.

• Foot: Muscular and slow-moving, used to glide across muddy surfaces.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

The Mudwhelk is native to tropical estuarine and mangrove ecosystems across the Indo-Pacific region.

🌎 Key Locations:
✅ Sundarbans (India & Bangladesh) – Abundant along muddy mangrove banks and creeks.
✅ India (West Bengal, Odisha, Andaman Islands).
✅ Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Philippines.

📌 Preferred Conditions:

• Intertidal mudflats, especially with low wave action.

• Areas with detritus-rich sediments and decaying organic matter.

• Found near mangrove roots, decayed leaf litter, and partially submerged logs.

🍃 Feeding & Behavior

🥬 Detritivore and Grazer

• Feeds on algae, bacteria, and decomposing organic matter in the mud.

• Uses radula (rasping tongue) to scrape biofilm and microalgae from surfaces.

🕳️ Burrowing & Shelter

• During extreme heat or low tide, burrows slightly into the mud to retain moisture.

• Active mainly during high tide or moist, cooler periods.

🧬 Reproduction:

• Separate sexes – Male and female snails release gametes into water.

• Eggs hatch into free-swimming larvae, which later settle on mudflats and grow.

🌿 Ecological Role in the Sundarbans

The Mudwhelk is a key detritus recycler and sediment conditioner.

📌 Ecosystem Services:
1️⃣ Organic Matter Breakdown – Helps decompose mangrove leaves and detritus. 🍂
2️⃣ Sediment Stabilizer – Movement improves aeration and nutrient mixing.
3️⃣ Food Source – Eaten by mudskippers, herons, egrets, monitor lizards, and fish. 🦎🐟
4️⃣ Bioindicator – Sensitive to heavy metal and chemical pollution, useful in estuarine health monitoring.

💰 Economic & Cultural Significance

🦐 While not widely consumed in West Bengal, it holds cultural and commercial value in Southeast Asia:

🍽️ Edible in Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, where it is cooked or grilled with spices.
🌿 Used in traditional medicine in coastal Asia for treating wounds and stomach issues.
📊 Occasionally collected in the Sundarbans for curiosity, shell craft, or low-scale trade.

⚠️ Threats & Conservation Challenges

🚨 Habitat Loss – Coastal development and shrimp farming reduce mudflat zones.
🚨 Pollution – Heavy metals, pesticides, and oil spills impact survival.
🚨 Overharvesting in other countries, though not currently a major concern in India.
🚨 Mangrove degradation reduces detritus sources and shelter.

✅ Conservation Strategies

✔ Mangrove afforestation and creek protection benefit Mudwhelk populations.
✔ Discourage trampling of mudflats during tourism activities.
✔ Pollution control measures in estuarine areas.
✔ Inclusion in biodiversity walks and eco-education programs for awareness.

🚨 Conservation Status

📌 IUCN Red List: Not Evaluated Individually
📌 Protected indirectly through wetland and mangrove ecosystem conservation efforts in the Sundarbans.
📌 Local abundance but sensitive to habitat changes.

The Mudwhelk (Telescopium telescopium) is a humble but vital member of the Sundarbans’ intertidal community. Through its nutrient recycling, sediment cleaning, and role in the mangrove food chain, this spiral-shelled scavenger helps keep the ecosystem balanced. Its presence signals healthy, undisturbed tidal flats, and conserving it supports a much larger network of estuarine life. 🌱🐌🌊

🌟 Credit Note

🌿 Explore the wonders of Sundarbans’ mudflat ecology with a Sundarban luxury tour. 🛶✨
🌍 Learn about hidden mollusks on a customized Sundarban private tour package guided by local experts. 🐯🌴
🐟 Celebrate the region’s biodiversity and culinary heritage at the Sundarban Hilsa Festival 2025 🎣🍽

For more, visit the Telescopium telescopium Wikipedia Page.