DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF TERRESTRIAL GASTROPOD FAUNA (SNAILS AND SLUGS) OF LORALAI DIVISION, BALOCHISTAN PROVINCE, PAKISTAN

In this study we describe the Diversity and Distribution of Terrestrial Gastropod Fauna (Snails and Slugs) of Loralai Division, Balochistan Province, Pakistan, that how Diversity and Distribution of Terrestrial Gastropod Fauna (Snails and Slugs) are affected from change in climate or what is the present status. As native terrestrial snails and slugs are poorly studied and understood in Balochistan Province. The study was conducted during the period of March 2022 to March 2023 from the Loralai divisions. Specimens will be collected and preserved randomly from the soil, vegetation, gardens, humid and shaded places of each selected sites and will preserve in 70-80% ethyl alcohol in specimen bottles. A total 592 individuals of snails and slugs (Gastropods) “were sampled and examined. The gastropods were dominant in all” areas of the Loralai divisions. A total of five species were recorded from eight sampling sites during the study period which are B. similaris, M. sequax, Z. insularis, A. gracile, Z. detrita. These taxa were represented by a class Gastropoda; two orders viz., Stylommatophora and Pulmonata; five families and five genera. Seasonally, the species richness showed its highest value during Summer, followed by Spring, then Autumn, whereas the least catch was recorded in Winter in all studied sites. “The high value of soil pH was reported by in September to which present finding showed dissimilarity. Soil organic carbon and soil organic matter ranged (0.94 - 1.88) % and (1.70 - 3.24) % with maximum content of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) and Soil Organic Matter (SOM) in site-5 and minimum in site-8”. It was Concluded that among the ten sites, Given the number and diversity of gastropods, it is clear from this study that there is an important suggestion between the distribution of gastropods and sediment quality.