Alcithoe arabica
Alcithoe arabica | |
---|---|
A shell of the shouldered form of Alcithoe arabica | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
(unranked): | clade Caenogastropoda clade Hypsogastropoda clade Neogastropoda |
Superfamily: | Muricoidea |
Family: | Volutidae |
Genus: | Alcithoe |
Species: | A. arabica |
Binomial name | |
Alcithoe arabica (Gmelin, 1791) | |
Synonyms | |
Alcithoe swainsoni Marwick, 1926 |
Alcithoe arabica, common name Arabic Volute, is a species of very large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Volutidae, the volutes.[1]
Synonyms
- Alcithoe (Alcithoe) swainsoni Marwick, 1926
- Alcithoe motutaraensis Powell, 1928
- Fulgoraria (Alcithoe) depressa Suter, 1908
- Notovoluta rossiteri Brazier, 1898
- Voluta elongata Swainson, 1821
- Voluta pacifica Perry, 1810
Subspecies
- Alcithoe arabica motutaraensis Powell, 1928
- Alcithoe arabica swainsoni Marwick, 1926
Distribution
This species is endemic to Tasmania and New Zealand (North, South and Stewart Islands).[3][4][5][6]
Description
Shells of Alcithoe arabica can reach a height of 75–225 millimetres (3.0–8.9 in).,[5] and a width of 88 mm. These shells are usually large, solid, fusiform, with relatively weak tubercles on the shoulder of the body whorl. Aperture is high, with a thickened, rounded outer lip. The external surface is yellowish-white with chestnut zig-zac markings, forming five bands on the body whorl.[7][8]
There is no operculum. These gastropods have a large grey to brown foot flecked with purple and orange.[9]
Habitat
These sea snails live in subtidal waters on soft bottom in beaches and muddy harbours and inlets.[9]
Biology and lifestyle
Alcithoe arabica are able to move quite quickly on the soft substrate. They prey on bivalves smothered by means their large foot. The rounded, thin shelled eggs of this species are laid on stones or other shells.[9]
Gallery
-
A shell of Alcithoe arabica (smooth form)
-
Apertural view
Bibliography
- Powell A W B, New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
- Bail, P., Limpus, A. 2005: A Conchological Iconography 11, The Recent Volutes of New Zealand, with a revision of the genus Alcithoe H. & A. Adams, 1853, ConchBooks, Hackenheim, Germany
- Gordon D. - NZIB: New Zealand Inventory of Biodiversity.
- Grant-Mackie, J.A. Dec/2011: A Fossil Egg Case of Alcithoe arabica from the Whanganui Pleistocene, Poirieria, 36
- Horne, C. Jul/2005: Observations on Alcithoe arabica at Bucklands Beach, Poirieria
References
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alcithoe arabica. |