UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

The present study assessed the diversity, abundance and distribution of land gastropods from selected localities of the Andaman group of islands, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Field surveys were conducted at 14 sampling stations in South Andaman, North and Middle Andaman, including Narcondam Island, from July 2024 to July 2025. Specimens were collected from terrestrial microhabitats, including leaf litter, decaying wood, tree trunks, moist forest floors, areas under stones and other humid sites, using visual search, line-transect and hand-picking methods. Collected specimens were identified to species level using available taxonomic keys, and community structure was assessed using diversity and evenness indices. A total of 186 specimens representing 27 species, 21 genera, 15 families and two orders were recorded. Stylommatophora was the dominant order, comprising 22 species and 168 specimens, whereas Architaenioglossa was represented by five species and 18 specimens. The Shannon diversity index was 2.433, indicating moderate species diversity. Pielou’s evenness index was 0.738, suggesting a relatively even distribution of species, while Simpson’s diversity index was 0.849 and Simpson’s dominance index was 0.151. Higher species richness was observed in forested localities such as Chidiyatapu and Mt. Manipur, whereas some disturbed lowland areas showed comparatively lower richness. The study provides baseline information on land gastropod diversity in the Andaman Islands and highlights the need for continued monitoring and taxonomic verification of terrestrial molluscan fauna in the region.