Trophon geversianus

Trophon geversianus
Trophon geversianus acordonada
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Family:	Muricidae
Genus:	Trophon
Species:	T. geversianus
Binomial name
Trophon geversianus (Pallas, 1774)
Synonyms [1]
Buccinum fimbriatumMartyn, 1784 Buccinum geversianusPallas, 1774 Fusus inflatusHombron, J.B. & C.H. Jacquinot, 1852 not Dunker, 1847 Fusus intermediusHupé in Gay, 1854 Murex fimbriatus[Lightfoot], 1786 Murex foliatusSchumacher, 1817 Murex magellanicusGmelin, 1791 Murex peruvianusLamarck, 1816 Murex variansd'Orbigny, 1841 Murex ventricosaMolina, 1810 Polyplex bulbosaPerry, 1811 Trophon geversianus var. calvaKobelt, 1878 Trophon geversianus var. lirataKobelt, 1878 Trophon philippianusDunker in Kobelt, 1878 Trophon varians(d'Orbigny, 1841)

Trophon geversianus, commonly known as Gevers's trophon, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails. ^[1]

The two varieties Trophon geversianus var. calva Kobelt, 1878 and Trophon geversianus var. lirata Kobelt, 1878 have been synonymized with Trophon geversianus (Pallas, 1774)

Description

The size of an adult shell varies between 30 mm and 111 mm. Highly variable. Aperture greater than 1/2 of length, brown to violaceous (always coloured). Exterior with strong lamellae. Also with spiral cords, alone or forming a reticulate with the lamellae, or smooth. Brown to whitish, dull. Feeding Mytilidae on intertidal rocks. ^[2]

Distribution

This species is found in the Atlantic Ocean off Argentina, the Falkland Islands and Tierra del Fuego, Chile.

Imposex

The phenomenon known as imposex, the development of nonfunctional male sexual organs in female individuals, has been observed in T. geversianus. ^[3] This condition is triggered by exposure to organic tin compounds such as tributyltin (TBT) and triphenyltin (TPT), is irreversible, and can have severe consequences for gastropod species, ranging from individual sterilization to potential population collapse. ^{[4] [5]} Organotin compounds are commonly used as biocides and antifouling agents, added to marine paints to prevent organisms from growing on the hulls of boats and ships. ^{[6] [7]} As a result, high concentrations often accumulate in the waters around shipyards and docking areas, posing a serious threat to nearby marine life through prolonged exposure. ^{[7] [8]}

References

1. Trophon geversianus (Pallas, 1774) . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 25 April 2010.
2. Forcelli, D. and Narosky, T., 2015. Moluscos marinos de Argentina, Uruguay y Brasil - Uruguayan shells. Vázquez-Mazzini Editorial, 272 pp.
3. Giulianelli, Sebastián; Ruivo, Raquel; Neuparth, Teresa; Castro, Luís Filipe C.; Bigatti, Gregorio; Santos, Miguel M. (2025). "Cloning and comparative analysis of the retinoid X receptor in two marine gastropods with varying sensitivity to imposex under tributyltin contamination". Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 32 (15): 9479–9488. doi:10.1007/s11356-025-36278-7.
4. Voss, Jn; Brown-Peterson, Nj; Delgado, Ga (2025). "Revisiting the imposex queen conch Aliger gigas near Port Everglades, Florida: demographics, histopathology, and sediment contamination". Endangered Species Research. 57: 1–7. doi:10.3354/esr01401.
5. Leal, José H; Hulse, Carly; D'Agostino, Claire; Fogelson, Susan (2025). "First record of imposex in the horse conch, Triplofusus giganteus (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Fasciolariidae)". Bulletin of Marine Science. 101 (2): 899–900. doi:10.5343/bms.2024.0104.
6. Ruiz, J. M.; Quintela, M.; Barreiro, R. (1998). "Tributyltin and imposex: no uncertainty shown". Marine Ecology Progress Series. 170: 293–294. Bibcode:1998MEPS..170..293R. doi:10.3354/meps170293.
7. Horiguchi, T.; et al. (1995). "Imposex in Japanese gastropods (Neogastropoda and Mesogastropoda): effects of tributyltin and triphenyltin from anti-fouling paints". Marine Pollution Bulletin. 31 (4–12). Oxford: 402–405. Bibcode:1995MarPB..31..402H. doi:10.1016/0025-326X(95)00133-8.
8. Castro, Í. B.; et al. (2008). "Imposex in endemic volutid from Northeast Brazil (Mollusca: Gastropoda)" (PDF). Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology. 51 (5). Brazil: 1065–1069. doi: 10.1590/s1516-89132008000500024 . ISSN   1516-8913.

• Lamarck J.B. (1816). Liste des objets représentés dans les planches de cette livraison. In: Tableau encyclopédique et méthodique des trois règnes de la Nature. Mollusques et Polypes divers. Agasse, Paris. 16 pp.
• Engl, W. (2012). Shells of Antarctica. Hackenheim: Conchbooks. 402 pp

External links

• Küster, H. C.; Kobelt, W. (1839-1878). Die geschwänzten und bewehrten Purpurschnecken (Murex, Ranella, Tritonium, Trophon, Hindsia). In Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen. In: Systematisches Conchylien Cabinet von Martini und Chemnitz, ed. 2, Vol. 3(2): 1-336, pls 1-77. Nürnberg: Bauer & Raspe. Published in parts:
• Gmelin, J. F. (1791). Vermes. In: Gmelin J.F. (Ed.) Caroli a Linnaei Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, Ed. 13. Tome 1(6). G.E. Beer, Lipsiae
• Schumacher, C. F. (1817). Essai d'un nouveau système des habitations des vers testacés. Schultz, Copenghagen. iv + 288 pp., 22 pls.
• Perry, G. (1811). Conchology, or the natural history of shells: containing a new arrangement of the genera and species, illustrated by coloured engravings executed from the natural specimens, and including the latest discoveries. 4 pp., 61 plates. London
• Hupé L.H. (1854). Fauna Chilena. Moluscos, pp. 1-407, In: Gay, C. (1854). Historia física y política de Chile según documentos adquiridos en esta Republica durante doce años de residencia en ella y publicada bajo los auspicios del Supremo Gobierno. Zoología, Tomo 8. Paris, published by the author, and Santiago de Chile, Museo de Historia Natural de Santiago
• Lightfoot, J. (1786). A Catalogue of the Portland Museum, lately the property of the Dutchess Dowager of Portland, deceased; which will be sold by auction by Mr. Skinner & Co. (book). London. viii + 194 pp
• Griffiths, H.J.; Linse, K.; Crame, J.A. (2003). SOMBASE - Southern Ocean mollusc database: a tool for biogeographic analysis in diversity and evolution. Organisms Diversity and Evolution. 3: 207-213
• Harasewych, M. G. (1984). Comparative anatomy of four primitive muricacean gastropods: implications for trophonine phylogeny. American Malacological Bulletin. 3(1): 11-26.
• "Trophon geversianus geversianus". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 14 May 2011.