Alcithoe arabica | |
---|---|
A shell of the shouldered form of Alcithoe arabica | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
Order: | Neogastropoda |
Family: | Volutidae |
Genus: | Alcithoe |
Species: | A. arabica |
Binomial name | |
Alcithoe arabica (Gmelin, 1791) | |
Synonyms | |
Alcithoe swainsoni Marwick, 1926 Contents |
Alcithoe arabica, common name Arabic volute, is a species of very large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Volutidae, the volutes. [1] [2]
This species is endemic to New Zealand. [1] [3] [4]
Shells of Alcithoe arabica can reach a height of 75–225 millimetres (3.0–8.9 in) and a width of 88 mm. [1] These shells are usually large, solid, fusiform, with relatively weak tubercles on the shoulder of the body whorl. [1] The shell aperture is high with a thickened, rounded outer lip. [1] The external surface is yellowish-white with chestnut zig-zac markings, forming five bands on the body whorl. These zig-zag markings were thought to resemble Arabic writing, giving rise to the name of the species.
There is no operculum in A. arabica. Individuals have a large grey to brown foot, flecked with purple and orange markings. [5]
These sea snails live in subtidal waters on soft sediments. [5] Alcithoe arabica are able to move quite quickly on the soft substrate. They feed on bivalves that they smother using their large foot. The rounded, thin shelled eggs of this species are laid on stones or other shells. [5]
Volutidae, common name volutes, are a taxonomic family of predatory sea snails that range in size from 9 mm to over 500 mm, marine gastropod mollusks. Most of the species have no operculum.
Alcithoe is a genus of large sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Volutidae, the volutes.
Poirieria zelandica, common name the spiny murex, is a species of large predatory sea snail with an operculum. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Muricidae, the rock snails or murex snails.
Diloma is a genus of medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Trochidae, the top snails.
Diloma aethiops, whose common names include scorched monodont, spotted black topshell, and in the Maori language pūpū, pūpū-mai, or māihi is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Trochidae, subfamily Monodontinae.
Alcithoe fusus is a species of medium-sized sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Volutidae, the volutes.
Alcithoe larochei is a species of large deepwater sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Volutidae, the volutes.
Alcithoe larochei ostenfeldi is a subspecies of very large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Volutidae, the volutes.
Alcithoe haurakiensis is a species of medium-sized deepwater sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Volutidae, the volutes.
Alcithoe grahami is a species of medium-sized deepwater sea snail, a gastropod mollusc in the family Volutidae, the volutes.
Alcithoe wilsonae is a species of rare large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Volutidae, the volutes.
Alcithoe fissurata is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Volutidae, the volutes.
Alcithoe lutea is a species of large deepwater sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Volutidae, the volutes.
Antisolarium egenum is a small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Trochidae, the top shells.
Tanea is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Naticidae, the moon snails or necklace shells.
Antimelatoma buchanani is a species of predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Pseudomelatomidae.
Alcithoe jaculoides is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Volutidae, the volutes. This species is found only along the coast of North Island, New Zealand.
Calliostoma tigris, common name the tiger maurea, is a large species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Calliostomatidae, the Calliostoma top snails.
Lunella smaragda, common name the cat's eye snail, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alcithoe arabica . |