Babelomurex cariniferus | |
---|---|
Apertural view of Babelomurex cariniferus | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
Order: | Neogastropoda |
Family: | Muricidae |
Genus: | Babelomurex |
Species: | B. cariniferus |
Binomial name | |
Babelomurex cariniferus (Sowerby I, 1834) | |
Synonyms [2] | |
|
Babelomurex cariniferus, common name Babel's latiaxis, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails. [2] [3]
Babelomurex cariniferus is present from the Mediterranean Sea to the west coast of Africa (Canaries, Cape Verde, Angola). [2] [4] [5] [6]
This species (as junior synonym Latiaxis babelis) is listed in the IUCN Red List, because it is thought to be endemic to Malta. [1]
These sea snails live in the coral reef among corals and sponges. They can be found from a few meters to more than 1000. [2] [7]
Shells of Babelomurex cariniferus can reach a size of 20–45 millimetres (0.79–1.77 in). [5] The shell surface may be whitish or dark greyish. [8] These shells are variably shaped. They show numerous flattened spires with very thorny axial ribs. The keels of the whorls are adorned with several spiniform scales. A corneous operculum is present. [7] [9]
This species is quite similar to Babelomurex benoiti , but Babelomurex cariniferus is more variable in feature and sculpture and differs in the number of spiniform scales. [10]
These uncommon infralittoral sea snails are specialist feeders. In fact they feed exclusively on the polyps of the colonies of scleractinian stony corals. [7] [11]
Latiaxis is a genus of medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, subfamily Coralliophilinae, the coral snails or coral shells.
Monoplex parthenopeus, common name the giant triton or giant hairy triton, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cymatiidae. It preys on other molluscs.
Coralliophilinae is a taxonomic group, a subfamily of about 200–250 sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks commonly known as the coral snails or coral shells. This is a subfamily within the very large family Muricidae, the murex or rock snails.
Stramonita haemastoma, common name the red-mouthed rock shell or the Florida dog winkle, is a species of predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Muricidae, the rock snails.
Conus genuanus, common name the garter cone, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.
Fissurella nubecula, common name the cloudy keyhole limpet, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Fissurellidae, the keyhole limpets.
Babelomurex benoiti is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Claremontiella nodulosa, common name : the blackberry drupe, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Jujubinus gravinae is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Trochidae, the top snails.
Luria lurida is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.
Sinum bifasciatum is a species of predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Naticidae, the moon snails.
Tectonatica sagraiana is a species of predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Naticidae, the moon snails.
Aspa marginata is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Bursidae, the frog shells.
Bursa corrugata is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Bursidae, the frog shells.
Thetystrombus latus, commonly known as the Bubonian conch, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.
Natica marochiensis is a species of predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Naticidae, the moon snails.
Doliella nitens is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.
Pyrgolidium internodula is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.
Turbonilla lactea is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.
Glycymeris bimaculata is a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Glycymerididae.