Oxygyrus

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Oxygyrus keraudrenii
Temporal range: Pliocene-Recent [1]
Oxygyrus keraudrenii.png
Apical view of the shell of Oxygyrus keraudrenii from the Pliocene Epoch
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Caenogastropoda
clade Hypsogastropoda
clade Littorinimorpha
Superfamily:
Pterotracheoidea
Family:
Atlantidae
Genus:
Oxygyrus

Benson, 1835 [2]
Species:
O. keraudrenii
Binomial name
Oxygyrus keraudrenii
(Lesueur, 1817) [3]

Oxygyrus keraudrenii is a species of sea snail, a holoplanktonic marine gastropod mollusk in the family Atlantidae. [4]

Contents

Oxygyrus keraudrenii is the only species in the genus Oxygyrus. [5]

Description

Oxygyrus keraudreni (along with Atlanta peronii ) attains the largest size (shell diameter to 10 mm) among the Atlantidae. [5] [6] Body coloration is light bluish-purple, with the color darkening with age. [5] The larval shell is calcareous and displays a distinctive pattern of zigzag-shaped spiral ridges that are evenly spaced and cover the shell surface. [5] The teleoconch is composed of conchiolin, a transparent cartilaginous material, and its surface lacks sculpture. [5] With growth the teleoconch overgrows the protoconch and eventually surrounds it. [5] A shell spire, as seen in all other atlantids, is lacking and the spire region is termed involute. [5] The conchiolin keel is glass-like and has a truncate anterior edge that ends at the shell aperture. [5]

The shell of this easily recognisable species is completely involute, with a similar 'umbilicus' at both the top and the base of the shell. [1] This feature makes it impossible to count the number of protoconch whorls, as only one is visible in each of them. [1] The juvenile shell initially is slightly wider than high, but gets relatively wider during growth. [1] Its surface is slightly irregularly covered with approximately 20-24 spiral lirae in a zigzag-shape that usually leave a narrow zone free just below the periphery. [1] In between these lirae the shell's surface is granulated. [1] The apertural margin of the shell is deeply sinuated, as can be seen from the shape of the growth lines and also at the place where the ornamented protoconch changes quite suddenly to the much less clearly ornamented teleoconch (this transition is well-illustrated by Thiriot-Quiévreux, 1973, fig. 1A, and Batten & Dumont, 1976, fig. 24). [1]

apical view of very small juvenile shell shows typical zigzag-shaped spiral ridges Oxygyrus keraudrenii 2.png
apical view of very small juvenile shell shows typical zigzag-shaped spiral ridges
apical view of a juvenile shell Oxygyrus keraudrenii 3.png
apical view of a juvenile shell

In the largest available specimen from Pliocene of Philippines, the teleoconch has one complete whorl, widening rapidly, which makes the shell about twice as wide as high. [1] In this specimen the apertural margin is irregularly broken, indicating that the teleoconch might even have more than one calcified teleoconch whorl in complete specimens. [1] In another specimen from Philippines (H = 1.60, W = 2.52 mm), the teleoconch has three quarters of a whorl. [1] On the post-larval shell a vague spiral ornament is present and the peripheral belt remains visible as a slightly produced zone reaching the apertural margin. [1]

The type c eye morphology is only seen in one other species of atlantid ( Atlanta helicinoides ) and one carinariid ( Cardiapoda richardi ). [5] The shape of the operculum is unique among atlantids, broadly triangular, approaching trapezoidal in shape, and lacking the apical spiral part present in all other atlantids. [5] Also unique to the operculum is that when the animal retracts into its shell, only about one-half of the operculum covers the shell aperture. [5] The radula is very large and is triangular in shape. [5]

Recent specimens of Oxygyrus keraudreni have an uncalcified shell of conchiolin in the adult stage. [1] Janssen (2007) have found an indication that, during the Pliocene, individuals of this species were yet further calcified than are extant specimens. [1] This could point to a developmental trend involving a reduction of calcareous matter in the course of time, as a gradual weight reduction beneficial for holoplanktonic life. [1] The distinct peripheral belt demonstrates that a conchiolin keel was present. [1]

Distribution

The geographical distribution is cosmopolitan in tropical to subtropical waters. [5]

Fossil distribution

From the fossil record Oxygyrus keraudrenii has been found from Pliocene in Tiep, Roxas (map) and Anda, Pangasinan, Luzon, Philippines in 2001 (published in 2007). [1] Oxygyrus keraudrenii is known, in very few specimens only, from Jamaica (Janssen, 1998) and the Mediterranean Pliocene (Italy, Spain, France; Janssen, 2004). [1] The French occurrence was dated as Zanclean and thus it may be assumed that Oxygyrus occurred approximately since the Miocene-Pliocene transition. [1] Miocene representatives or related forms are unknown. [1]

Habitat

Oxygyrus keraudreni is a shallow-dwelling species that normally occurs in low abundances. [5] In the Indian Ocean was Oxygyrus keraudreni found essentially limited to the upper 100 m of the water column, with 90% between 50 m and the surface. [5] Similarly, off Hawaii was it recorded low in numbers of individuals whose vertical range was limited to the upper 90 m of the water column, with most individuals occurring at night in the upper 45 m. [5] In another study from the same area off Hawaii it was found that Oxygyrus keraudreni was captured in nighttime tows but was either absent or nearly so from comparable daytime ones. [5] The results from the latter two studies suggest the possibility of daytime net avoidance. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whorl (mollusc)</span> Complete revolution in the shell of a mollusc

A whorl is a single, complete 360° revolution or turn in the spiral or whorled growth of a mollusc shell. A spiral configuration of the shell is found in numerous gastropods, but it is also found in shelled cephalopods including Nautilus, Spirula and the large extinct subclass of cephalopods known as the ammonites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gastropod shell</span> Part of the body of a gastropod or snail

The gastropod shell is part of the body of a gastropod or snail, a kind of mollusc. The shell is an exoskeleton, which protects from predators, mechanical damage, and dehydration, but also serves for muscle attachment and calcium storage. Some gastropods appear shell-less (slugs) but may have a remnant within the mantle, or in some cases the shell is reduced such that the body cannot be retracted within it (semi-slug). Some snails also possess an operculum that seals the opening of the shell, known as the aperture, which provides further protection. The study of mollusc shells is known as conchology. The biological study of gastropods, and other molluscs in general, is malacology. Shell morphology terms vary by species group.

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

Atlantidae is a family of sea snails, holoplanktonic gastropod molluscs in the clade Littorinimorpha.

<i>Atlanta</i> (gastropod) Genus of gastropods

Atlanta is a genus of pelagic marine gastropod molluscs in the family Atlantidae. They are sometimes called heteropods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pterotracheoidea</span> Superfamily of molluscs

The Pterotracheoidea is, according to the Taxonomy of the Gastropoda, a taxonomic superfamily of sea snails or sea slugs, marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Littorinimorpha. They are commonly called heteropods or sea elephants.

<i>Splendrillia aoteana</i> Species of gastropod

Splendrillia aoteana is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Drilliidae.

<i>Teralatirus roboreus</i> Species of gastropod

Teralatirus roboreus is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Fasciolariidae.

Calliostoma virgo is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calliostomatidae.

<i>Chicomurex rosadoi</i> Species of gastropod

Chicomurex rosadoi is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.

<i>Morula lepida</i> Species of gastropod

Morula lepida is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.

<i>Atlanta brunnea</i> Species of gastropod

Atlanta brunnea is a species of sea snail, a holoplanktonic marine gastropod mollusk in the family Atlantidae.

<i>Atlanta echinogyra</i> Species of gastropod

Atlanta echinogyra is a species of sea snail, a holoplanktonic marine gastropod mollusk in the family Atlantidae.

<i>Atlanta lesueurii</i> Species of gastropod

Atlanta lesueurii is a species of sea snail, a holoplanktonic marine gastropod mollusk in the family Atlantidae.

<i>Protatlanta souleyeti</i> Species of gastropod

Protatlanta souleyeti is a species of sea snail, a holoplanktonic marine gastropod mollusk in the family Atlantidae.

<i>Protatlanta rotundata</i> Extinct species of gastropod

Protatlanta rotundata is an extinct species of sea snail, a holoplanktonic marine gastropod mollusk in the family Atlantidae.

<i>Menestho hypocurta</i> Species of gastropod

Menestho hypocurta is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.

<i>Bayerotrochus teramachii</i> Species of gastropod

Bayerotrochus teramachii, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Pleurotomariidae.

Turbonilla hannibali is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.

<i>Minolia peramabilis</i> Species of gastropod

Minolia peramabilis, common name the lovely Pacific margarite, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Solariellidae.

<i>Maoritomella multiplex</i> Species of gastropod

Maoritomella multiplex is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Borsoniidae.

References

This article incorporates CC-BY-3.0 text from references. [1] [5]

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Janssen A. W. (2007). "Holoplanktonic Mollusca (Gastropoda: Pterotracheoidea, Janthinoidea, Thecosomata and Gymnosomata) from the Pliocene of Pangasinan (Luzon, Philippines)". Scripta Geologica . 135. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
  2. ↑ Benson W. H. (1835). "Account of Oxygyrus; a new genus of pelagian shells allied to the genus Atlanta of Lesueur, with a note on some other pelagian shells lately taken on board the ship Malcolm". Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 4: 173-176. Oxygyrus is on the page 174.
  3. ↑ Lesueur C. A. (1817). "Mémoire sur deux nouveaux genres de mollusques, Atlante et Atlas". Journal de Physique85: 390-393.
  4. ↑ Oxygyrus keraudrenii (Lesueur, 1817) . Gofas, S. (2009). Oxygyrus keraudrenii (Lesueur, 1817). In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2009) World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=138839 on 14 August 2010 .
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Seapy R. R. (2010). Oxygyrus keraudreni Benson 1835. Version 1 April 2010. http://tolweb.org/Oxygyrus_keraudreni/28753/2010.04.01 in The Tree of Life Web Project, accessed 20 August 2010.
  6. ↑ Welch J. J. (2010). "The "Island Rule" and Deep-Sea Gastropods: Re-Examining the Evidence". PLoS ONE 5(1): e8776. doi : 10.1371/journal.pone.0008776.
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