Titanostrombus goliath

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Titanostrombus goliath
Strombus goliath - 2016.jpg
Two shells of Titanostrombus goliath
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Family: Strombidae
Genus: Titanostrombus
Species:
T. goliath
Binomial name
Titanostrombus goliath
(Schröter, 1805) [1]
Synonyms [2]

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. [2] It was once considered endemic to Brazil, but specimens have also been recently found in the waters of Barbados. [2] [3] [4] Brazilian common names for this species include búzio de chapéu or búzio (in Ceará state), and búzio de aba or buzo in (Bahia state). [5] Some phylogenetic hypotheses consider T. goliath as closely related to the queen conch, Aliger gigas .

Contents

Taxonomy

This species was first named as Strombus goliath by German theologian Johann Samuel Schröter in 1805. [1] It is named after the biblical character Goliath, who is traditionally considered to have been of tremendous size.

The family Strombidae has undergone an extensive taxonomic revision recently [6] and many subgenera, including Eustrombus , were elevated to genus level by some authors. [7] Petuch recombined this species as Titanostrombus goliath in 2004, and Landau et al. recombined it as Lobatus goliath in 2008. [8] In 2020, the species was recombined as Titanostrombus goliath by Maxwell and colleagues. [9] The type locality of this species is Paracuru beach, north of Fortaleza, in Ceará state (Brazil). [5]

Phylogeny

Strombidae
Phylogeny and relationships of Strombidae according to Simone (2005) [7]

The phylogenetic relationships among the Strombidae have been mainly accessed on two occasions, by Simone (2005) [7] and Latiolais (2006). [10] However, Titanostrombus goliath was only included in Simone's analysis. Simone proposed a cladogram (a tree of descent) based on an extensive morpho-anatomical analysis of representatives of Aporrhaidae, Strombidae, Xenophoridae and Struthiolariidae, which included T. goliath. [7]

With the exception of Lambis and Terebellum , the remaining taxa were previously allocated within the genus Strombus , including T. goliath. However, according to Simone, only Strombus gracilior , Strombus alatus and Strombus pugilis , the type species, remained within Strombus, as they 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). [7] The remaining taxa were previously considered as subgenera, and were elevated to genus level by Simone in the end of his analysis. The genus Eustrombus (then considered a synonym of Lobatus [11] ), in this case, included Eustrombus gigas (now considered a synonym of Aliger gigas ) and Eustrombus goliath (= T. goliath), which were thus considered closely related. [7]

Distribution

Titanostrombus goliath is found along the northeastern and southeastern coast of Brazil, including several Brazilian states, such as Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Bahia and Espírito Santo and insular regions, such as Abrolhos Marine National Park. [2]

Since October 2008, a small population of both juvenile and adult specimens of Titanostrombus goliath was reported by fishermen to have been established in at least two locations along the west coast of Barbados. According to Professor Hazel A. Oxenford of the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, the means by which T. goliath came to dwell in Barbadian waters are not entirely clear; but the most likely explanation was that Goliath conch larvae were brought over from Brazilian to Barbadian waters by an 'extreme oceanographic event' involving the North Brazilian Current (NBC). Oxenford also assessed that the species was not invasive and unlikely to pose a threat to native marine flora and fauna, but opined that overfishing could cause severe depletion of its numbers. [4]

Shell description

The maximum reported length for an adult shell of Titanostrombus goliath is 380 mm (15 in). [2] [3] [12] The goliath conch has a very large, heavy and solid shell, with a very conspicuous, widely flaring and thickened outer lip. The stromboid notch is rather inconspicuous in adult individuals, but it can be identified as a secondary anterior indentation to the right of the siphonal canal in a non-sinistral shell, assuming it is viewed ventrally, with its anterior end pointing down. Unlike the similarly sized queen conch, Aliger gigas , the aperture of the shell of the Goliath conch is colored tan, and not pink. T. goliath has also a shorter spire and duller spines as compared to the queen conch, and the outer lip frequently expands far beyond the length of the spire in the shells of adult individuals. [5] [13]

Habitat

The minimum recorded depth for this species is 0 m, and the maximum recorded depth is 50 m. [12]

Human uses

The flesh of the goliath conch is edible. However, the shell has recently become the main reason for the fishery. This is because the shell is a popular decorative object which is widely utilized in handicrafts and commonly sold as a souvenir in local markets and craft stores in several regions of Brazil. This is despite the fact that some authors have warned about the risks to this species of overexploitation and even extinction. [14] [15] In response to depletion of Titanostrombus goliath numbers, the species was included in Annex II of the Brazilian List of Species Threatened by Overexploitation since 2005. [16]

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.

<i>Strombus</i> Genus of gastropods

Strombus is a genus of medium to large sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Strombidae, which comprises the true conchs 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, and the West Indian fighting conch, Strombus pugilis. However, since 2006, many species have been assigned to discrete genera. These new genera are, however, not yet found in most textbooks and collector's guides.

<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>Strombus pugilis</i> Species of gastropod

Strombus pugilis, common names the fighting conch and the West Indian fighting conch, is a species of medium to large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.

<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

Lobatus raninus, common name the hawk-wing conch, is a species of medium to large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.

<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. Some of the species within this genus were previously placed in the genus Eustrombus.

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

Strombus alatus, the Florida fighting conch, is a species of medium-sized, warm-water sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs. Its name derives two Latin words. Strombus means, in Latin, a snail with spiral shell, which derives from the Greek στρόμβος, meaning anything turned or spun around, like a top or, as in Aristotle's Historia Animalium, a sea snail. Alatus means, in Latin, "winged".

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

Conomurex luhuanus, commonly known as the strawberry conch or tiger conch, is a species of medium-sized sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs. C. luhuanus is found in sandy habitat among corals in the Indopacific region. They feed on algae or detritus, move with a modified foot, and have complex eyes compared to other gastropods.

<i>Macrostrombus costatus</i> Species of sea snail

Macrostrombus costatus, formerly known as Strombus costatus and Lobatus 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.

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

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

Canarium scalariforme 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>Canarium mutabile</i> Species of gastropod

Canarium mutabile, common name the variable stromb, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.

<i>Terebellum terebellum</i> Species of gastropod

Terebellum terebellum, common name the Terebellum conch, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Seraphsidae, the true conchs.

<i>Aliger</i> Genus of gastropods

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

<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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 (in German) Schröter J. S. (1805). "Berichtigungen für meine Einleitung in die Conchylienkenntniss nach Linné. Zwente Fortsetzung". Archiv für Zoologie und Zootomie 4(2) 137-160. Strombus goliath is on the page 139.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Conquiliologistas do Brasil". Strombidae (in Portuguese). 2001–2010. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
  3. 1 2 Rosenberg, G. (2010). "Malacolog 4.1.1: A Database of Western Atlantic Marine Mollusca". Eustrombus goliath (Schröter, 1805). Retrieved 8 April 2010.
  4. 1 2 Oxenford, H.A. A giant leap? Goliath conch, a Brazilian endemic species is found in Barbados. Journal of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society LVII: 192-201
  5. 1 2 3 Moscatelli, R. (1987). The superfamily Strombacea from Western Atlantic. Antonio A. Nanô & Filho ltda. pp. 64–66.
  6. ↑ "Worldwide Conchology" . Retrieved 23 October 2009.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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". Arquivos de Zoologia. 37 (2). São Paulo, Brazil: Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo: 141–267. doi: 10.11606/issn.2176-7793.v37i2p141-267 . ISSN   0066-7870.
  8. ↑ "The Paleobiology Database" . Retrieved 23 October 2009.
  9. ↑ Maxwell, S.J.; Dekkers, A.M.; Rymer, T.L.; Congdon, B.C. (2020). "Towards resolving the American and West African Strombidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Neostromboidae) using integrated taxonomy". The Festivus. 51 (1): 3–38. doi:10.54173/F521003.
  10. ↑ 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
  11. ↑ Lobatus Swainson, 1837 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 5 December 2012.
  12. 1 2 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.
  13. ↑ "Family: Strombidae". Strombus gigas Linnaeus, 1758 (PDF). FAO Species Identification Sheets. Rome: FAO. 1977.
  14. ↑ Alves, M. S.; et al. (2006). "Zooartesanato comercializado em Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil". Revista Brasileira de Zoociências (in Portuguese). 8 (2): 99–109. ISSN   1517-6770.
  15. ↑ Silva, A. F.; et al. (2007). "Zooartesanato comercializado na costa da Paraíba (Nordeste do Brasil): implicações ecológicas e conservacionistas" (PDF). Anais do VIII Congresso de Ecologia do Brasil (in Portuguese).
  16. ↑ Ministerio do Meio Ambiente (2005). Instrucao Normativa N. 52, de 8 de Novembro de 2005.
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