Traditional knowledge of cuttlebone in Lakshadweep islands, India

Abstract

Cuttlebones are commonly abundant in the beaches and waters of Lakshadweep archipelago and it has specific uses with in the knowledge of rural peoples of Lakshadweep. The study was conducted in March 2019 in Lakshadweep, India. Cuttlebones are physico-chemically unique internal structure of the cuttlefishes belong to the family sepiidae. In worldwide it have variable uses apart from that in Lakshadweep islands it is used for preventing rodents from the houses. Rodents like mice and rats are very common in the islands which threats food storages in the homes. People of the islands used the cuttlebone as preventing these rodents from entering through drainage outlets by placing near the entrance areas. The rural peoples believes that these light weight material from cuttlefish is preventing rodents by affecting something on eyes of the animal or they fear of cuttlebones. The study shows that the different usage of cuttlebone traditionally and the method can be adopt worldwide and further scientific study is needed. The research want to continue because of the unknown prevention factor contained in the physico-chemical character present in the cuttlebone.