Fasciolaria tulipa

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Fasciolaria tulipa
Fasciolaria tulipa 2.jpg
A live Fasciolaria tulipa out of water
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Family: Fasciolariidae
Genus: Fasciolaria
Species:
F. tulipa
Binomial name
Fasciolaria tulipa
Synonyms [1]
  • Colus achatinus Röding, 1798
  • Colus marmoratus Röding, 1798
  • Fasciolaria canaliculata Valenciennes, 1832
  • Fasciolaria concolorKobelt, 1875
  • Fasciolaria rugosaKobelt, 1875
  • Fasciolaria scheepmakeriKobelt, 1875
  • Fasciolaria schepmackeri Sowerby II, 1882
  • Fasciolaria obsoleta Dall, 1890
  • Murex tulipa Linnaeus, 1758
  • Neptunea laevigataLink, 1807

Fasciolaria tulipa, common name the true tulip, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Fasciolariidae. This fiercely predatory species occupies a wide geographic area within the Western Atlantic and is known, along with the other Fasciolariids, for the superficial resemblance their shells possess to a closed tulip flower.

Contents

Habitat distribution

Source: [2]

Fasciolaria tulipa has one of the largest geographic distributions of any western Atlantic Fasciolariid inhabiting the North Carolina coast and further south and west to the Gulf coast of Texas, the West Indies (where they have been identified universally regardless of water depth or island) and northern Brazil (35°N to 4°N; 97.22°W to 51°W). [1] [3] [4] [5] This species resides in the benthic zones of bodies of water with a maximum reported depth of 73 meters and are commonly found in seagrass beds and sand flats in marine environments. They also tend to inhabit shallow waters like estuaries and inlets. Some geographic locations they are commonly found are in the Gulf of Mexico along the gulf coast of Florida and near the Florida Keys. [4] [6]

Shell description

The tulip shell has a fusiform outline, with an overall smooth surface, and presents fine growth lines, and small denticles on the inner edge of its delicate outer lip. [3] It is whitish to tan in color, with rows of darker brownish blotches of various sizes. Over the blotches are symmetrical rows of thin lines which spiral along the whorls of the shell, which are normally about 9 [3] in number.

The shell of an adult tulip snail can be from 2.5” to 9.5” inches (6.4 – 24.1 cm) in length.

Ecology

In 1969, Fasciolaria tulipa were seen in Alligator Harbor off the northwest coast of Florida found densities of one individual per 917 m-2 with little known about their behaviors and interactions. Today, it is known that Fasciolaria tulipa lives in the Benthic region of the ocean in a temperate habitat around seagrass beds and tidal flats and is larger than its relative: F. hunteria. Because of their habitat and size, tulip snails are cannibalized, which means they prey on others of the same species, and are preyed on as juveniles and adults by horse conchs, carnivorous crabs, snails, other crustaceans, sea stars, and bony fishes. In order to evade predation, the tulip snail uses its operculum to seal the aperture after it retracts into its shell when threatened or sense potential hazards. Another mode of protection is thrashing its muscular foot to escape a predators grasp.

Feeding habits

This snail eats bivalves and various other gastropods including the banded tulip Fasciolaria lilium , and the queen conch Eustrombus gigas . [7] It is a major predator of the thorny oyster Spondylus americanus . [8]

Reproduction

Fasciolaria tulipa reproduce internally via sexual reproduction. There are 5 observed reproductive cycles; rest, gametogenesis, mature, spawn, and post spawn. The rest stage is the period where little to no reproduction occurs. This stage allows for hatched larvae to begin growing and reach the mature stage. The next stage, gametogenesis, is the production and accumulation of mature gametes. This stage prepares for the mature and spawn stage. Both the mature and spawn stages are the time where reproduction is most active and eggs are being laid. The post spawn stage is a period where the eggs hatch and enter the larval stage. This process is repeated by returning to the rest stage after the larval stage has ended. [9]

The spawning period was observed from January through October. Although spawning occurs for most of the year, October was the peak for this period. The post spawn stage followed soon after and was at its peak in November. The rest stage occurs in December, which is followed by the Gametogenesis stage in January. While these stages have peaks throughout the year, they are observed in individuals throughout the year. Some individuals will be at different stages than others. [9]

Eggs are described as smooth, opaque, white capsules that hatch 14 embryos from each capsule. The egg capsules are laid in large groups attached to a hard surface near or on the seafloor. Larva develop directly from nutrients in the egg capsule, and are free swimming for up to six days after they hatch. [10] [11]

Males and females can be identified based on their reproductive organs. The female reproductive system consists of ovaries, cement glands located centrally on the foot, and the large pallial oviduct. The male reproductive system consists of testes, a narrow vas deferens, the prostate, and the penis. [11]

Economic importance

Fasciolaria tulipa hemocyanin can be dissociated and denatured by urea and Hofmeister salt series, potentially being used in drug development. Urea and Hofmeister salt series effectively dissociate Fasciolaria tulipa hemocyanin, suggesting hydrophobic stabilization of the subunit assembly.[1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Triplofusus giganteus</i> Species of tulip snail - the horse conch

Triplofusus giganteus, commonly known as the Florida horse conch, or the giant horse conch, is a species of extremely large predatory subtropical and tropical sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Fasciolariidae, the spindle snails, tulip snails and their allies. On average, it weighs over 11 pounds.

<i>Aliger gigas</i> Species of mollusc

Aliger gigas, originally known as Strombus gigas or more recently as Lobatus gigas, commonly known as the queen conch, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family of true conches, the Strombidae. This species is one of the largest molluscs native to the Caribbean Sea, and tropical northwestern Atlantic, from Bermuda to Brazil, reaching up to 35.2 centimetres (13.9 in) in shell length. A. gigas is closely related to the goliath conch, Lobatus goliath, a species endemic to Brazil, as well as the rooster conch, Aliger gallus.

<i>Fasciolaria</i> Genus of gastropods

Tulip snail or tulip shell is the common name for eight species of large, predatory, subtropical and tropical sea snails from the Western Atlantic. These species are in the genus Fasciolaria. They are marine gastropod mollusks in the family Fasciolariidae, the spindle shells, tulip shells and their allies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fasciolariidae</span> Family of gastropods

Fasciolariidae is a family of small to large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Buccinoidea. Species in Fasciolariidae are commonly known as tulip snails and spindle snails.

<i>Pleuroploca</i> Genus of gastropods

Pleuroploca is a genus of very large predatory sea snails with an operculum, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Fasciolariidae, which includes the spindle shells, the tulip shells and other allied genera.

<i>Cinctura lilium</i> Species of gastropod

Cinctura lilium, common name the banded tulip, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Fasciolariidae, the spindle snails, the tulip snails and their allies.

<i>Cinctura hunteria</i> Species of gastropod

Cinctura hunteria, the northern banded tulip, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Fasciolariidae, the spindle snails, the tulip snails and their allies.

<i>Tarantinaea lignaria</i> Species of gastropod

Tarantinaea lignaria is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Fasciolariidae, the spindle snails, the tulip snails and their allies.

Polygona anapetes is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Fasciolariidae, the spindle snails, the tulip snails and their allies.

Polygona bernadensis is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Fasciolariidae, the spindle snails, the tulip snails and their allies.

<i>Latirus philberti</i> Species of gastropod

Latirus philberti, common name Philbert's Peristernia, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Fasciolariidae, the spindle snails, the tulip snails and their allies.

<i>Fusolatirus paetelianus</i> Species of gastropod

Fusolatirus paetelianus is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Fasciolariidae, the spindle snails, the tulip snails and their allies.

Polygona vermeiji is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Fasciolariidae, the spindle snails, the tulip snails and their allies.

<i>Peristernia tulipa</i> Species of gastropod

Peristernia tulipa is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Fasciolariidae, the spindle snails, the tulip snails and their allies.

<i>Peristernia ustulata</i> Species of gastropod

Peristernia ustulata is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Fasciolariidae, the spindle snails, the tulip snails and their allies.

<i>Filifusus manuelae</i> Species of gastropod

Filifusus manuelae is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Fasciolariidae, the spindle snails, the tulip snails and their allies.

<i>Pleuroploca trapezium</i> Species of gastropod

Pleuroploca trapezium, common name : the trapezium horse conch or striped fox conch, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Fasciolariidae, the spindle snails, the tulip snails and their allies.

<i>Leucozonia</i> Genus of gastropods

Leucozonia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Fasciolariidae, the spindle snails, the tulip snails and their allies.

<i>Macrostrombus costatus</i> Species of sea snail

Macrostrombus costatus, formerly known as Strombus costatus and Lobatus costatus, or commonly known as the milk conch, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs. They are an edible species and important food source for the inhabitants of where they are found. Conchs are most notable for their medium to large-sized ornamental shells. Milk conchs are dispersed among the tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean, along the coasts and islands of North, Central, and South America.

<i>Cinctura</i> Genus of gastropods

Cinctura is a genus of fasciolariid sea snails known as the banded tulip shells. Species in this genus were previously grouped in the closely related genus Fasciolaria.

References

  1. 1 2 Rosenberg, G. (2009). "Malacolog 4.1.1: A Database of Western Atlantic Marine Mollusca" . Retrieved 2009-10-26.
  2. ↑ Petuch, Edward (2023). "A New Deep Water Fasciolaria (Fasciolariidae: Fasciolariinae) Tulip Shell from off the Dry Tortugas, Western Florida Keys, Florida".
  3. 1 2 3 Leal, J. H. (2002). "Gastropods". In Carpenter, K. E. (ed.). The living marine resources of the Western Central Atlantic. Volume 1: Introduction, molluscs, crustaceans, hagfishes, sharks, batoid fishes, and chimaeras (PDF). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. FAO. pp. 99–147.
  4. 1 2 Snyder, Martin (2012). "The genera and biogeography of Fasciolariinae (Gastropoda, Neogastropoda, Fasciolariidae)" (PDF).
  5. ↑ Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema Naturae Systema Naturae, 10th ed., vol. 1 824 pp. Laurentii Salvii: Holmiae [Stockholm, Sweden]
  6. ↑ Geiger, Stephen (2023). "Densities of Large Marine Gastropods in Seagrass, Oyster Reef, and Sandy Habitats in Tampa Bay and along the Gulf Coast of Florida". Journal of Shellfish Research. 39 (2): 399. doi:10.2983/035.039.0222.
  7. ↑ Iversen E.S.; Jory D.E.; Bannerot S.P. (1986). "Predation on queen conchs, Strombus gigas, in the Bahamas". Bulletin of Marine Science, 39(1): 61-75.
  8. ↑ Feifarek, Brian P. (1987). "Spines and epibionts as antipredator defenses in the thorny oyster Spondylus americanus Hermann". Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 105 (1): 39–56. doi:10.1016/S0022-0981(87)80028-X. ISSN   0022-0981.
  9. 1 2 Aranda, Dalila Aldana; Cárdenas, Erick Baqueiro; Morales, Imelda Martínez; Zárate, Adriana Zetina; Brulé, Thierry (2003-11-01). "A Review of the Reproductive Patterns Of Gastropod Mollusks from Mexico". Bulletin of Marine Science. 73 (3): 629–641.
  10. ↑ D'Asaro, Charles N. (1970-04-01). "Egg Capsules of Prosobranch Mollusks from South Florida and the Bahamas and Notes on Spawning in the Laboratory". Bulletin of Marine Science. 20 (2): 414–440.
  11. 1 2 Riberio Couto, Diogo; Simone, Luiz; Dias Pimenta, Alexandre (2015). "Morphology of Fasciolaria tulipa from Venezuela (Gastropoda: Buccinoidea: Fasciolariidae)".

[1]

11. Herskovits, T., Blake, P., & Hamilton, M. (1988). Subunit dissociation and denaturation of Fasciolaria tulipa hemocyanin.. Comparative biochemistry and physiology. B, Comparative biochemistry, 90 4, 869-74 . https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-0491(88)90347-1.

  1. ↑ Herskovits, Theodore T.; Blake, Perth A.; Hamilton, Mary G. (1988). "Subunit dissociation and denaturation of Fasciolaria tulipa hemocyanin". Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Comparative Biochemistry. 90 (4): 869–874. doi:10.1016/0305-0491(88)90347-1. ISSN   0305-0491.
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