Use of mollusks in zoohandicraft manufacturing in the Amazon Region

Abstract

The use of mollusks by riverine and coastal families occurs mainly through the sale to add extra income to the family. However, little knowledge about the species that are marketed in the confection of zoohandicraft. From the above, the present study aims to characterize the diversity of mollusks used in zoohandicraft of the State of Pará, Brazil. To carry out this study, between March and August 2014, traditional handicraft marketing points were visited in the Municipality of Belém, the state capital. In all, 16 species of mollusks were found, 56% of gastropods and 44% of bivalves, arranged in five types of zoohandicraft (bio-jewels, ornaments for the ceiling, souvenirs, keychains, and certificate holders), and shells. Among the most abundant species, we highlight the bivalves Anomalocardia flexuosa (Linnaeus, 1767) and Triplodon corrugatus (Lamarck, 1819), it is emphasized that no species is on the red list of species threatened with extinction. It is concluded that the few existing data on the production and trade of zoohandicraft are insufficient to measure anthropogenic effects on the mollusks used to make the materials.