Strombus

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Strombus
Temporal range: Cretaceous - recent [1]
Strombus pugilis 01.JPG
Five views of a shell of the West Indian fighting conch, Strombus pugilis , type species of the genus Strombus
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Superfamily: Stromboidea
Family: Strombidae
Genus: Strombus
Linnaeus, 1758 [2]
Type species
Strombus pugilis
Synonyms
  • Pyramis Röding, 1798
  • StrombellaSchlüter, 1838

Strombus is a genus of medium to large sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Strombidae, which comprises the true snails and their immediate relatives. The genus Strombus was named by Swedish Naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Around 50 living species were recognized, which vary in size from fairly small to very large. Six species live in the greater Caribbean region, including the queen conch, Strombus gigas (now usually known as Eustrombus gigas or Lobatus gigas), and the , Strombus pugilis . However, since 2006, many species have been assigned to discrete genera. [3] These new genera are, however, not yet found in most textbooks and collector's guides.

Contents

Worldwide, several of the larger species are economically important as food sources; these include the endangered queen conch, which very rarely also produces a pink, gem-quality pearl.

In the geological past, a much larger number of species of Strombus existed. [4] Fossils of species within this genus have been found all over the world in sediments from Cretaceous to Quaternary (age range: 140.2 million years ago to recent). [5]

Of the living species, most are in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Many species of true conchs live on sandy bottoms among beds of sea grass in tropical waters. They eat algae and have a claw-shaped operculum.

Description

Anatomy

Live animal of the Florida fighting conch Strombus alatus: Note the extensible snout in the foreground, and the two stalked eyes behind it. Strombus alatus.jpg
Live animal of the Florida fighting conch Strombus alatus : Note the extensible snout in the foreground, and the two stalked eyes behind it.

Like almost all snails gastropods, conches have spirally constructed snails. Again, as is normally the case in many gastropods, this spiral snail growth is usually right-handed, but on very rare occasions it can be left-handed.

True snails have long eye stalks, with colorful ring-marked eyes at the tips. The shell has a long and narrow aperture, and a short siphonal canal, with another indentation near the anterior end called a stromboid notch. This notch is where one of the two eye stalks protrudes from the snails.

The true conch has a foot ending in a pointed, sickle-shaped, operculum, which can be dug into the substrate as part of an unusual "leaping" locomotion.

True conches grow a flared lip on their shells only upon reaching sexual maturity. This is called an alated outer lip or alation.

Conches lay eggs in long strands; the eggs are contained in twisted, gelatinous tubes. [6] Strombus moves with a leaping motion. [7]

Snails description

Strombus snails have a flaring outer lip with a notch near the anterior end called the stromboid notch through which the animal can protrude one of its stalked eyes. [8]

Phylogeny

Strombidae
 

Terebellum terebellum

 
 
 

Canarium urceus

 
 
 

Conomurex luhuanus

 
 
 

Tricornis raninus

 
 
 

Lambis lambis

 
 
 

Strombus

 
 
 

Eustrombus

 
 

Aliger

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A simplified version of the phylogeny and relationships of the Strombidae according to Simone (2005) [9]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Strombus gallus

 
 

Strombus gigas

 
 
 

Strombus costatus

 
 
 
 

Strombus raninus

 
 

Strombus peruvianus

 
 
 
 

Strombus galeus

 
 
 

Strombus latus

 
 
 
 
 
 

Strombus pugilis

 
 

Strombus alatus

 
 
 

Strombus gracilior

 
 
 

Strombus granulatus

 
 
 
 
 
 
Phylogeny and relationships of Eastern Pacific and Atlantic Strombus species, according to Latiolais et al. (2006) [3]

The phylogenetic relationships among the Strombidae have been mainly accessed in two different occasions, using two distinct methods. In a 2005 monograph, Simone proposed a cladogram (a tree of descent) based on an extensive morpho anatomical analysis of representatives of the Aporrhaidae, Strombidae, Xenophoridae, and Struthiolariidae. [9] However, according to Simone, only Strombus gracilior , Strombus alatus , and Strombus pugilis , the type species, remained within Strombus. In Simone's cladogram, these three species constituted a distinct group based on at least five synapomorphies (traits that are shared by two or more taxa and their most recent common ancestor). The remaining taxa were previously considered as subgenera, and were elevated to genus level by Simone in the end of his analysis. [9]

In a different approach, Latiolais and colleagues (2006) proposed another cladogram that attempts to show the phylogenetic relationships of 34 species within the family Strombidae. The authors analysed 31 species in the genus Strombus and three species in the allied genus Lambis. The cladogram was based on DNA sequences of both nuclear histone H3 and mitochondrial cytochrome-c oxidase I (COI) protein-coding gene regions. In this proposed phylogeny, Strombus pugilis, Strombus alatus, Strombus granulatus and Strombus gracilior are closely related and appear to share a common ancestor. [3]

Species

This genus of sea snails used to comprise about 50 species, [10] 38 of them occurring in the Indo-Pacific region. [11] Species within the genus Strombus include:

Extinct species
Fossil shell of Strombus radix Strombidae - Strombus radix.JPG
Fossil shell of Strombus radix
Fossil shell of Strombus coronatus from Pliocene of Italy Strombidae - Strombus coronatus.JPG
Fossil shell of Strombus coronatus from Pliocene of Italy

Extinct species within this genus include: [5]

Species brought into synonymy

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Murex</i> Genus of gastropods

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".

Strombidae 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 refer generally 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>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>Bursa</i> (gastropod) Genus of gastropods

Bursa is a genus of large sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Bursidae, the frog snails or frog shells.

<i>Polinices</i> Genus of gastropods

Polinices is a genus of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the subfamily Polinicinae of the family Naticidae, commonly known as moon snails.

<i>Lobatus</i> Genus of gastropods

Lobatus is a genus of very large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.

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

Cassis, common name the helmet shells, is a genus of very large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cassidae, the helmet shells and their allies. This is the type genus of the subfamily Cassinae.

<i>Hexaplex</i> Genus of gastropods

Hexaplex is a genus of medium-sized to large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily muracinae of the family Muricidae, the murex shells or rock snails.

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

Pterygia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Mitroidea.

<i>Phyllonotus</i> Genus of gastropods

Chicoreus is a genus of medium to large sized predatory sea snails. These are carnivorous marine gastropod molluscs in the family Muricidae, the murexes or rock snails.

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

Cymbium is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Volutidae.

<i>Margistrombus marginatus</i> Species of gastropod

Margistrombus marginatus, common name: the Marginate Conch, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.

<i>Erronea</i> Genus of gastropods

Erronea is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

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

Lobatus costatus, formerly known as Strombus 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>Aliger gallus</i> Species of gastropod

Aliger gallus, previously known as Strombus gallus, common name the rooster conch or rooster-tail conch, is a species of medium-sized sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.

<i>Dolomena plicata</i> Species of gastropod

Dolomena plicata, common name the pigeon conch, is a species of medium-sized to large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.

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

Canarium urceus is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.

Aliger is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.

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

Canarium is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.

Dolomena is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.

References

  1. ↑ Sepkoski, J. J. Jr. (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera". Bulletins of American Paleontology. 363: 99.
  2. ↑ Linnaeus C. (1758). Systema Naturae , ed. 10, 742; 1767, ed. 12, 1207.
  3. 1 2 3 Latiolais, J. M.; Taylor M. S.; Roy, K.; Hellberg, M. E. (2006). "A molecular phylogenetic analysis of strombid gastropod morphological diversity". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 41: 436-444. doi : 10.1016/j.ympev.2006.05.027.PDF.
  4. ↑ See Bellsouthpwp.net, Family Strombidae
  5. 1 2 Fossilworks
  6. ↑ R. Tucker Abbott, American Seashells, New York (2d. ed., 1974) p. 143
  7. ↑ Sealifebase
  8. ↑ Kenneth R. Wye, The Encyclopedia of Shells, Londo, 2004, p. 70.
  9. 1 2 3 Simone, L. R. L. (2005). "Comparative morphological study of representatives of the three families of Stromboidea and the Xenophoroidea (Mollusca, Caenogastropoda), with an assessment of their phylogeny" (PDF). Arquivos de Zoologia. São Paulo, Brazil: Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo. 37 (2): 141–267. ISSN   0066-7870. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-05.
  10. ↑ Cob, Z. C. et al. (2009). "Species Description and Distribution of Strombus (Mollusca: Strombidae) in Johor Straits and its Surrounding Areas". Sains Malaysiana38 (1): 39–46.
  11. ↑ Abbott, R.T. (1960). "The genus Strombus in the Indo-pacific". Indo-Pacific Mollusca 1(2): 33-144
  12. ↑ Strombus alatus Gmelin, 1791 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  13. ↑ Strombus pugilis Linnaeus, 1758 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  14. ↑ "Strombus fragilis (Röding, 1798)". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  15. ↑ Strombus aurisdianae Linnaeus, 1759 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  16. ↑ Strombus bulla Röding, 1798 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  17. ↑ Strombus canarium Linnaeus, 1758 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  18. ↑ Strombus decorus (Röding, 1798) . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  19. ↑ Strombus debelensis . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  20. ↑ Strombus dentatus Linnaeus, 1758 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  21. ↑ Strombus epidromis Linnaeus, 1758 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  22. ↑ Strombus erythrinus Dillwyn, 1817 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  23. ↑ Strombus fasciatus Born, 1778 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  24. ↑ Strombus fusiformis Sowerby, 1842 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  25. ↑ Strombus gallus Linnaeus, 1758 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  26. ↑ Strombus gibberulus Linnaeus, 1758 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  27. ↑ Strombus guidoi Man in t'Veld & De Turck, 1998 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  28. ↑ Strombus haemastoma Sowerby, 1842 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  29. ↑ Strombus hickeyi Willan, 2000 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  30. ↑ Strombus labiatus Röding, 1798 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  31. ↑ Strombus labiosus Gray in Wood, 1828 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  32. ↑ Strombus latus Gmelin, 1791 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  33. ↑ Strombus lentiginosus Linnaeus, 1758 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  34. ↑ Strombus listeri Gray, 1852 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  35. ↑ Strombus luhuanus Linnaeus, 1758 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  36. ↑ Strombus magolecciai Macsotay & Villarroel, 2001 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  37. ↑ Strombus mutabilis Swainson, 1821 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  38. ↑ Strombus oldi Emerson, 1965 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  39. ↑ Strombus persicus (Swainson, 1821) . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  40. ↑ Strombus plicatus Röding, 1798 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  41. ↑ Strombus sinuatus Humphrey, 1786 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  42. ↑ Strombus terebellatus Sowerby, 1842 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  43. ↑ Strombus tricornis (Humphrey, 1786) . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  44. ↑ Strombus urceus Linnaeus, 1758 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  45. ↑ Strombus ustulatus (Schumacher, 1817) . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  46. ↑ Strombus variabilis Swainson, 1820 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
  47. ↑ Strombus wilsoni Abbott, 1967 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 27 June 2010.
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