Harpago chiragra

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Harpago chiragra
Harpagochiragra.jpg
Harpago chiragra
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Family: Strombidae
Genus: Harpago
Species:
H. chiragra
Binomial name
Harpago chiragra
Synonyms [1]
Open mollusk Podagricheskii liambis.jpg
Open mollusk

Harpago chiragra, common name the Chiragra spider conch, is a species of very large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs. [1]

Contents

Shell description

Harpago chiragra 01.JPG

The shell length for this species varies between 85 mm and 320 mm, usually to 170 mm. [2] Harpago chiragra has a very thick, robust and heavy shell, with a distinct anterior notch. Its most prominent characteristic are the six long and curved marginal digitations, expanded from the flaring, thick outer lip and canals. The columella and aperture are lirate.

Anatomy

Sexual dimorphism is strongly present in this species. Female individuals are usually much larger than the male ones. [2]

Distribution

Harpago chiragra is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific, ranging from the Aldabra Atoll, Chagos, Mauritius, Mozambique, Sri Lanka and the Gulf of Bengal to eastern Polynesia. It ranges north as far as Taiwan and southern Japan, and south to New Caledonia and Australia. [2]

Ecology

Habitat

Harpago chiragra lives in coral reef areas. It can be found in littoral and sublittoral zones, in tidal pools and low tide levels to a depth of around 25 m. [2]

Feeding habits

Harpago chiragra is known to be an herbivore, feeding on plants and algae.

Human uses

The flesh of H. chiragra is edible, and it is locally collected for food. The shell is used in shellcraft. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strombidae</span> Family of molluscs

Strombidae, commonly known as the true conchs, is a taxonomic family of medium-sized to very large sea snails in the superfamily Stromboidea, and the Epifamily Neostromboidae. The term true conchs, being a common name, does not have an exact meaning. It may generally refer to any of the Strombidae but sometimes is used more specifically to include only Strombus and Lambis. The family currently includes 26 extant, and 10 extinct genera.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stromboidea</span> Superfamily of gastropods

The Stromboidea, originally named the Strombacea by Rafinesque in 1815, is a superfamily of medium-sized to very large sea snails in the clade Littorinimorpha.

<i>Lambis</i> Genus of gastropods

Lambis is a genus of large sea snails sometimes known as spider conchs, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Strombidae, the true conch family.

<i>Lambis lambis</i> Species of gastropod

Lambis lambis, common name the spider conch, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.

<i>Melo melo</i> Species of gastropod

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<i>Strombus pugilis</i> Species of gastropod

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<i>Lambis scorpius</i> Species of gastropod

Lambis scorpius, common name the scorpion conch or scorpion spider conch, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.

<i>Lentigo lentiginosus</i> Species of gastropod

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<i>Laevistrombus canarium</i> Species of sea snail

Laevistrombus canarium is a species of edible sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Strombidae. Known from illustrations in books dating from the late 17th century, L. canarium is an Indo-Pacific species occurring from India and Sri Lanka to Melanesia, Australia and southern Japan. The shell of adult individuals is coloured from light yellowish-brown to golden to grey. It has a characteristic inflated body whorl, a flared, thick outer lip, and a shallow stromboid notch. The shell is valued as an ornament, and because it is heavy and compact, it is also often used as a sinker for fishing nets.

<i>Lobatus raninus</i> Species of gastropod

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<i>Euprotomus aurisdianae</i> Species of gastropod

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<i>Conomurex luhuanus</i> Species of gastropod

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<i>Titanostrombus goliath</i> Species of gastropod

Titanostrombus goliath, previously known as Lobatus goliath and Strombus goliath, common name the goliath conch, is a species of very large edible sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs. T. goliath is one of the largest mollusks of the Western Atlantic Ocean, and also one of the largest species among the Strombidae. It was once considered endemic to Brazil, but specimens have also been recently found in the waters of Barbados. Brazilian common names for this species include búzio de chapéu or búzio, and búzio de aba or buzo in. Some phylogenetic hypotheses consider T. goliath as closely related to the queen conch, Aliger gigas.

<i>Harpago arthriticus</i> Species of gastropod

Harpago arthriticus, common name : the arthritic spider conch, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.

<i>Canarium labiatum</i> Species of gastropod

Canarium labiatum, common name the Samar Conch, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.

<i>Sinustrombus sinuatus</i> Species of sea snail

Sinustrombus sinuatus, common name the laciniate conch, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the true conch family, Strombidae. It is native to the tropical Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Strombus gracilior</i> Species of gastropod

Strombus gracilior, common names the Eastern Pacific fighting conch, or the Panama fighting conch, is a species of medium to large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.

<i>Titanostrombus galeatus</i> Species of gastropod

Titanostrombus galeatus, commonly known as the Eastern Pacific giant conch, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs and their allies.

<i>Lobatus peruvianus</i> Species of gastropod

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References