| Indian volute | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A shell of the Indian volute,Melo melo | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Neogastropoda |
| Family: | Volutidae |
| Genus: | Melo |
| Species: | M. melo |
| Binomial name | |
| Melo melo (Lightfoot, 1786) | |
| Synonyms[1][2] | |
| |
Melo melo,common name theIndian volute orbailer shell (also spelledbaler),[3] is a very largeediblesea snail, amarinegastropodmollusc in thefamilyVolutidae, the volutes.[1]
The distribution of this species is restricted toSoutheast Asia, fromBurma,Thailand andMalaysia, to theSouth China Sea and thePhilippines.[1][2]
This large sea snail is known to live inlittoral and shallowsublittoral zones. It usually dwells in muddy bottoms at a maximum depth of nearly 20 m.[2]
Melo melo is known to be carnivorous, as laboratory experiments have shown. It is a specialized predator of othercontinental shelf predatory gastropods, notablyHemifusus tuba (Melongenidae) andBabylonia lutosa (Buccinidae).[4] It is also a known predator of the dog conch,Strombus canarium (Strombidae).[5]
The maximum shell length of this species is up to 275 mm, commonly to 175 mm.
The notably large shell ofMelo melo has a bulbous or nearly oval outline, with a smooth outer surface presenting distinguishable growth lines. The outside of shell colour is commonly pale orange, sometimes presenting irregular banding of brown spots, while the interior is glossy cream, becoming light yellow near its margin.[2] Thecolumella has three or four long and easily distinguishablecolumellar folds.[2] It has a wideaperture, nearly as long as the shell itself, yet this species is known to have nooperculum.[2] The shell'sspire is completely enclosed by thebody whorl, which is inflated and quite large, and has a rounded shoulder with no spines. Theapex is of smooth type.[2]
This volute is known to producepearls; however, theMelo melo pearl has nonacre, unlike the pearl of apearl oyster. TheGIA andCIBJO now simply use the term 'pearl' (or, where appropriate, the more descriptive term 'non-nacreous pearl') when referring to such items, rather than the previously used term 'calcareous concretion'[6][7] and, under Federal Trade Commission rules, various mollusc pearls may be referred to as 'pearls' without any qualification.[8] The melo pearl is created by the mollusc in the same way as other pearls are created by other molluscs.
See also:Conch Pearl
This volute is often collected for food by local fishermen. The shells are also often used as decoration, or as scoops for powdery substances in local markets.[2]
The shell is also traditionally utilized by the native fishermen to bail out their boats, therefore it is commonly called "bailer shell".[2]
This snail is eaten inVietnam.[9]