Melo | |
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A shell of the Indian volute, Melo melo surrounded by a group of pearls from that species | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
Order: | Neogastropoda |
Family: | Volutidae |
Tribe: | Melonini |
Genus: | Melo Broderip in Sowerby I, 1826 [1] |
Melo is a genus of extremely large sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Volutidae, the volutes. Because of their huge ovate shells, these snails are often known as "bailers" (the shells were sometimes used for bailing out canoes) or "melons" (because the shell resembles that fruit).
Species in this genus sometimes produce large pearls. The image in the taxobox shows a group of these pearls with a shell of the species Melo melo .
The large shell is subovate and ventricose. The spire is short. The apex is obtuse, papillary, persistent. The whorls are smooth. The body whorl is posteriorly coronated. The aperture is oblong and wide. The columella shows several oblique plaits, the anterior the largest. The outer lip is simple, acute and obliquely truncate in front. [2]
The following species are recognised in the genus Melo: [3]
Parasites of Melo sp. include trematode Lophotaspis macdonaldi . [4]
Murex is a genus of medium to large sized predatory tropical sea snails. These are carnivorous marine gastropod molluscs in the family Muricidae, commonly called "murexes" or "rock snails".
Bulla is a genus of medium to large hermaphrodite sea snails, shelled marine opisthobranch gastropod molluscs. These herbivorous snails are in the suborder Cephalaspidea, headshield slugs, and the order Opisthobranchia.
Volutidae, common name volutes, are a taxonomic family of predatory sea snails that range in size from 9 mm to over 500 mm. They are marine gastropod mollusks. Most of the species have no operculum.
Littoraria is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.
Amoria is a taxonomic genus of medium-sized predatory marine gastropod in the family Volutidae.
Polinices is a genus of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the subfamily Polinicinae of the family Naticidae, commonly known as moon snails.
Turbinella is a genus of very large sea snails with an operculum, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Turbinellinae of the family Turbinellidae.
Scaphella is a genus of large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Volutidae, the volutes.
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.
Cymbiola is a genus of large predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Volutidae, the volutes.
Voluta is a genus of medium to large sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Volutidae, the volutes.
Cyllene is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Nassariidae, the nassa mud snails or dog whelks.
Amoria turneri, common name Turner's volute, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Volutidae, the volutes.
Livonia mammilla, common name false melon or false baler, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk of the genus Livonia in the family Volutidae, the volutes.
Melo broderipii is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Volutidae, the volutes.
Adelomelon is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Volutidae.
Cymbium is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Volutidae.
Lyria is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Volutidae.
Calyptraea, commonly known as the Chinese hat snails is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Calyptraeidae, a family which contains the slipper snails or slipper limpets, cup-and-saucer snails, and Chinese hat snails.
Nebularia is a genus of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Cylindromitrinae within the family of Mitridae. This name was originally proposed as a subgenus of the genus Mitra. The type species of this genus is Mitra contractaSwainson, 1820.