Tegula funebralis

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Tegula funebralis
Tegula funebralis in Santa Cruz.jpg
In Santa Cruz, California
Tegula funebralis 01.JPG
Five views of a shell
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Clade: Vetigastropoda
Order: Trochida
Superfamily: Trochoidea
Family: Tegulidae
Genus: Tegula
Species:
T. funebralis
Binomial name
Tegula funebralis
(A. Adams, 1855) [1]
Synonyms [2]
  • Chlorostoma funebraleA. Adams, 1855 (original combination)
  • Chlorostoma funebralis(A. Adams, 1855)
  • Trochus funebralisFischer

Tegula funebralis, the black turban snail or black tegula, is a species of medium-sized marine sea snail in the family Tegulidae. [2] This eastern Pacific Ocean species was previously known as Chlorostoma funebralis. [3]

In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. Other ways of defining species include their karyotype, DNA sequence, morphology, behaviour or ecological niche. In addition, paleontologists use the concept of the chronospecies since fossil reproduction cannot be examined.

Sea snail common name for snails that normally live in saltwater

Sea snail is a common name for slow moving marine gastropod molluscs usually with visible external shells, such as whelk or abalone. They share the taxonomic class Gastropoda with slugs, which are distinguished from snails primarily by the absence of a visible shell.

Tegulidae is a family of small to large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Trochoidea.

Contents

Description

Most adults have shells which are 20 to 50 mm (or about an inch, to an inch and three quarters) in diameter. Adults weigh anywhere from 2 to 20 grams. [4] Individuals can live anywhere from 7 to 30 years; studies have shown that individuals inhabiting the more northern portions of the organism's range are larger and live longer on average than organisms inhabiting the southern portions. [5] [6]

Exoskeleton External skeleton of an organism

An exoskeleton is the external skeleton that supports and protects an animal's body, in contrast to the internal skeleton (endoskeleton) of, for example, a human. In usage, some of the larger kinds of exoskeletons are known as "shells". Examples of animals with exoskeletons include insects such as grasshoppers and cockroaches, and crustaceans such as crabs and lobsters, as well as the shells of certain sponges and the various groups of shelled molluscs, including those of snails, clams, tusk shells, chitons and nautilus. Some animals, such as the tortoise, have both an endoskeleton and an exoskeleton.

In 1971, a new sense organ was discovered in this marine snail. Chemoreceptor organs were found near the base on the border of the leaflets of the ctenidium (comb-like respiratory gills), one on each leaflet. They form a light swelling near the base of the leaflet with a pocket lying within the swelling. Together they are termed a "bursicle". [7]

A chemoreceptor, also known as chemosensor, is a specialized sensory receptor cell which transduces (converts) a chemical substance and generates a biological signal. This signal may be in the form of an action potential if the chemoreceptor is a neuron, or in the form of a neurotransmitter that can activate a nearby nerve fiber if the chemosensor is a specialized sensory receptor cell, such as the taste receptor in a taste bud or in an internal peripheral chemoreceptor such as the carotid body. In more general terms, a chemosensor detects toxic or hazardous chemicals in the internal or external environment of the human body and transmits that information to the central nervous system,, in order to expel the biologically active toxins from the blood, and prevent further consumption of alcohol and/or other acutely toxic recreational intoxicants.

Black turban snails living in a rocky intertidal zone Tegula funebralis.jpg
Black turban snails living in a rocky intertidal zone
Black turban snails and hermit crabs on a dead gumboot chiton in a tide pool in central California Hermit crabs scavenge at Gumboot chiton 2.jpg
Black turban snails and hermit crabs on a dead gumboot chiton in a tide pool in central California

Distribution and habitat

Black turban snails are found along the Pacific coast of North America from British Columbia to Baja California, where they are one of the most abundant snail species. [5] Studies have recorded densities of up to 1,400 individuals per m2 near Monterey, California. Local densities are influenced by many factors, including abundance of food, predators, and suitable habitat. [4]

Pacific coast part of any countrys coast bordering the Pacific Ocean

A country's Pacific coast is the part of its coast bordering the Pacific Ocean.

North America Continent entirely within the Northern Hemisphere and almost all within the Western Hemisphere

North America is a continent entirely within the Northern Hemisphere and almost all within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered by some to be a northern subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the west and south by the Pacific Ocean, and to the southeast by South America and the Caribbean Sea.

British Columbia Province of Canada

British Columbia is the westernmost province of Canada, located between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. With an estimated population of 5.071 million as of 2019, it is Canada's third-most populous province.

This species inhabits rocky intertidal zones, between low and high tide lines. [5] Juveniles are found mostly under rocks and among coarse sands. [8] Empty black turban snail shells are often utilized by another common intertidal animal, the hermit crab. [9]

Intertidal zone area of coast between low and high tide marks

The intertidal zone, also known as the foreshore or seashore, is the area that is above water level at low tide and underwater at high tide. This area can include several types of habitats with various species of life, such as starfish, sea urchins, and many species of coral. Sometimes it is referred to as the littoral zone, although that can be defined as a wider region.

Hermit crab superfamily of crustaceans

Hermit crabs are decapod crustaceans of the superfamily Paguroidea.

Diet

Tegula funebralis is primarily herbivorous. Food for T. funebralis can be categorized as either rock encrusting algae, macroscopic algae, or organic detritus. Studies into the macroscopic algal preferences of T. funebralis revealed a strong preference for Nereocystis luetkana and Macrocystis integrifolia . Macroscopic algae species preferred by T. funebralis are similar in that they are non-calcareous, non-filamentous, and softer in comparison to other macroscopic algae in the region. These species do not grow in the intertidal, so they are only available to T. funebralis as drift material. [10]

Herbivore Animal adapted to eating plant material

A herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example foliage or marine algae, for the main component of its diet. As a result of their plant diet, herbivorous animals typically have mouthparts adapted to rasping or grinding. Horses and other herbivores have wide flat teeth that are adapted to grinding grass, tree bark, and other tough plant material.

Coralline algae order of algae

Coralline algae are red algae in the order Corallinales. They are characterized by a thallus that is hard because of calcareous deposits contained within the cell walls. The colors of these algae are most typically pink, or some other shade of red, but some species can be purple, yellow, blue, white, or gray-green. Coralline algae play an important role in the ecology of coral reefs. Sea urchins, parrot fish, and limpets and chitons feed on coralline algae. In the temperate Mediterranean sea, coralline algae are the main builders of a typical algal reef, the Coralligène ("coralligenous"). Many are typically encrusting and rock-like, found in marine waters all over the world. Only one species lives in freshwater. Unattached specimens may form relatively smooth compact balls to warty or fruticose thalli.

Algae Photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms

Algae is an informal term for a large, diverse group of photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms that are not necessarily closely related, and is thus polyphyletic. Included organisms range from unicellular microalgae, such as Chlorella and the diatoms, to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelp, a large brown alga which may grow up to 50 m in length. Most are aquatic and autotrophic and lack many of the distinct cell and tissue types, such as stomata, xylem, and phloem, which are found in land plants. The largest and most complex marine algae are called seaweeds, while the most complex freshwater forms are the Charophyta, a division of green algae which includes, for example, Spirogyra and stoneworts.

Threats

Predators of T. funebralis include sea stars, crabs, octopuses, sea gulls, and sea otters. [4] Experiments showed that T. funebralis will flee if it detects a predator nearby, and if already in motion, can increase its speed from 2–3 cm per minute to around 8 cm per minute. If the anterior portion of T. funebralis is touched by a predator, it can raise the front of the foot and make a 90° turn to escape. Additionally, if T. funebralis detects a predator while on a steep surface, it can detach itself and roll down the incline. [11]

Human use

Princess Turban Snail sushi at Kabuto in Las Vegas Princess Turban Snail.jpg
Princess Turban Snail sushi at Kabuto in Las Vegas

Archaeological evidence shows that humans have utilized black turban snails for over 12,000 years. The edible portion of the snail can range in weight from less than a gram to 8 grams. It is estimated that the average human would need to consume around 400 snails a day to meet their minimum caloric needs if it were the only food consumed. [4]

Evidence for human consumption of black turban snails includes the discovery of shell middens in association with tools referred to by researchers as "turban crackers". Evidence from several late Holocene middens suggest that harvesting increased around 3,000 years ago. The analysis of middens found near Point Conception reveal that black turban snails comprised up to 60% of meat yields for the native people in that area. Researchers speculate that the prevalence of eating these snails was probably influenced by the abundance of individuals and the ease of collection. [4]

Related Research Articles

Tide pool A rocky pool on a seashore, separated from the sea at low tide, filled with seawater

Tide pools or rock pools are shallow pools of seawater that form on the rocky intertidal shore. Many of these pools exist as separate bodies of water only at low tide.

<i>Tegula</i> (gastropod) A genus of small to medium-sized sea snails

Tegula is a genus of small to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Tegulidae.

Vetigastropoda suborder of molluscs

Vetigastropoda is a major taxonomic group of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks that form a very ancient lineage. Taxonomically the Vetigastropoda are sometimes treated as an order, although they are treated as an unranked clade in Bouchet and Rocroi, 2005.

<i>Cittarium pica</i> species of mollusc

Cittarium pica, common name the West Indian top shell or magpie shell, is a species of large edible sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Tegulidae. This species has a large black and white shell.

<i>Norrisia norrisii</i> species of mollusc

The marine snail Norrisia norrisii is a medium-sized gastropod mollusk within the family Tegulidae. It has several common names, including Norris's top snail, Norris's topsnail, norrissnail, smooth brown turban snail, or kelp snail. It was first described by G.B. Sowerby I under the name Trochiscus norrisii.

<i>Lunella coronata</i> species of mollusc

Lunella coronata, common name the crowned turban shell or the coronate moon turban, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

<i>Tegula viridula</i> species of mollusc

Tegula viridula is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Tegulidae.

<i>Chlorostoma</i> genus of molluscs

Chlorostoma is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Tegulidae.

<i>Tenguella granulata</i> species of mollusc

Tenguella granulata, common name the mulberry shell or the granulated drupe, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.

<i>Nucella lamellosa</i> species of mollusc

Nucella lamellosa, commonly known as the frilled dogwinkle or wrinkled purple whelk, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails. This species occurs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, its range extending in the intertidal zone from the Aleutian Islands southward to central California.

<i>Tegula gallina</i> species of mollusc

Tegula gallina is a North American species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Tegulidae.

<i>Pagurus samuelis</i> species of crustacean

Pagurus samuelis, the blueband hermit crab, is a species of hermit crab from the west coast of North America, and the most common hermit crab in California. It is a small species, with distinctive blue bands on its legs. It prefers to live in the shell of the black turban snail, and is a nocturnal scavenger of algae and carrion.

<i>Margarites pupillus</i> species of mollusc

Margarites pupillus, common name the puppet margarite or the little margarite, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Margaritidae, the turban snails.

<i>Tegula brunnea</i> species of mollusc

Tegula brunnea, common name the brown turban snail, is a species of medium-sized sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Tegulidae,.

<i>Tegula montereyi</i> species of mollusc

Tegula montereyi, common name the "Monterey tegula", is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Tegulidae.

<i>Tegula pellisserpentis</i> species of mollusc

Tegula pellisserpentis, common name the serpent-tongue tegula, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Tegulidae,.

<i>Tegula luctuosa</i> species of mollusc

Tegula luctuosa is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Tegulidae.

<i>Tegula tridentata</i> species of mollusc

Tegula tridentata is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Tegulidae.

Lottia asmi, commonly known as the black limpet, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Lottiidae. It is found in shallow water in the eastern Pacific Ocean, usually in the intertidal zone.

<i>Dardanus deformis</i> species of crustacean

Dardanus deformis is a species of nocturnal hermit crab that is found in the Indo-Pacific. Its common name is pale anemone hermit. The species is known to transfer sea anemones from one shell to another when it moves to a different shell. It can be kept in an aquarium.

References

  1. ↑ Adams A., Descriptions of twenty-seven new species of shells from the collection of Hugh Cumming, Esq.; Peoc. Zool. Soc. of London 22 311-317
  2. 1 2 Bouchet, P. (2012). Tegula funebralis (A. Adams, 1855). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=607163 on 2012-09-10
  3. ↑ "Chlorostoma funebralis (A. Adams, 1855)". WoRMs. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Erlandson, Jon; Ainis, Amira; Braje, Todd; Jew, Nicholas; McVey, Marlene; Torben, Rick; Vellanoweth, Rene; Watts, Jack (2015). "12,000 years of human predation on black turban snails (Chlorostoma funebralis) on Alta California's Northern Channel Islands". California Archaeology. 7 (1): 59–91. doi:10.1179/1947461x15z.00000000056.
  5. 1 2 3 Meinkoth, Norman (1981). The Audubon Field Guide to North American Seashore Creatures. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. p. 477.
  6. ↑ Franks, P.W. (1975). "Latitutinal variation in the life history features of the black turban snail Tegula funebralis (Prosobranchia: Trochidae)". Marine Biology. 31: 181–192. doi:10.1007/bf00391630.
  7. ↑ Roger Szal (1971). ""New" sense organ of primitive gastropods". Nature. 229 (5285): 490–492. doi:10.1038/229490a0. PMID   4925208.
  8. ↑ Moran, A. L. (1997). "Spawning and larval development of the black turban snail Tegula funebralis (Prosobranchia: Trochidae)". Marine Biology. 128 (1): 107–114. doi:10.1007/s002270050074.
  9. ↑ "Pagurus samuelis – blueband hermit crab". Sanctuary Integrated Monitoring System. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
  10. ↑ Best, Barbara (1964). "Feeding activity of Tegula funebralis (Mollusca: Gastropoda)". The Veliger. 6: 42–45.
  11. ↑ Feder, Howard (July 1972). "Escape responses in marine invertebrates". Scientific American. 227: 93–100. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0772-92.
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