Vasum muricatum

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Vasum muricatum
Vasum muricatum 000.jpg
Two views of a shell of Vasum muricatum without periostracum from Los Roques archipelago, Venezuela
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Family: Turbinellidae
Subfamily: Vasinae
Genus: Vasum
Species:
V. muricatum
Binomial name
Vasum muricatum
(Born, 1778)
Synonyms [1]
  • Turbinella pugillarisLamarck, 1822
  • Vasum urnaRöding, 1798
  • Voluta muricataBorn, 1778 (original combination)
  • Volutella divergensPerry, 1810

Vasum muricatum, common name the Caribbean vase, is a species of medium to large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinellidae. [2] [1]

Contents

Description

Vasum muricatum has a large, thick and heavy shell that reaches a length of 50 – 100 mm. The shell is quite elongated, conical or vase-shaped (hence the common name). There are blunt spines at the shoulder and near the base. The shell is off- white with black or dark brown periostracum externally, while the aperture is usually white. The columella has 5 strong folds, the first and third being the largest. [3]

Distribution

This species is widespread in the Caribbean Sea. In Venezuela this species has been reported from the state of Falcon, [4] Nueva Esparta [5] [6] [7] and Dependencias Federales. [8]

Habitat

This species is rather common and is often found in pairs in shallow water. It preys on worms and clams. [9]

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References

  1. 1 2 MolluscaBase eds. (2023). MolluscaBase. Vasum muricatum (Born, 1778). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=420079 on 2023-01-28
  2. Morris, A. P. (1973): “A Field Guide to Shells of the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and the West Indies”. Hougmon Mifflin Co Boston.
  3. Abbott, R Tucker (1974). American Seashells. D. Van Nostrand Reinhold. Ltd. New York. 663.
  4. Bitter, Ricardo S. y Martínez E. Rafael. 2001: Inventario de los moluscos marinos en las costas del estado Falcón, Venezuela. Acta Biologica Venezuelica, 21(1):21-41.
  5. Macsotay, O. 1982: Intervalos batimetabólicos y batimétricos de algunos moluscos bentónicos marinos de Venezuela. BOL. Soc. Ven. Cien. Nat. 37:103-147
  6. Princz, D. 1973: Moluscos gastrópodos y pelecipodos del Estado Nueva Esparta, Venezuela. Mem. Soc. Cien. Nat. La Salle, 33:169-222
  7. Princz, D y a González de Pacheco. 1981: Los moluscos marinos del Parque Nacional La Restinga, isla de Margarita, Venezuela. Ministerio del ambiente y de los Recursos Naturales Renovables. Serie informes cientifico. Zona 14/IC/1-42
  8. Capelo, J.C. y J. Buitrago. 1998: Distribución d e los moluscos marinos en el oriente de de Venezuela. Mem. Soc. Cien. Nat. La Salle, 150:109-160.
  9. Warmke, Germaine L. & Abbott, R Tucker. (1961): Caribbean Seashells. Livingston Publishing Company. Narberth. Pennsylvania.