Eulima

Eulima
Two shells of Eulima algoensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Superfamily: Vanikoroidea
Family: Eulimidae
Genus: Eulima
Risso, 1826
Type species
Turbo subulatus
Donovan, 1804
Synonyms
  • Cuspeulima Laseron, 1955
  • Eulima (Leiostraca)
  • Eulima (Subularia)
  • Leiostraca H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
  • Melania (Eulima) Risso, 1826
  • Strombiformis Da Costa, 1778 (Invalid: placed on the Official Index by ICZN Opinion 1718)
  • Subularia Monterosato, 1884

Eulima is a genus of small, ectoparasitic sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Eulimidae.

Eulima is the type genus of the family Eulimidae.

Description

The genus appeared early in the Secondary and became abundant in forms during the Tertiary period.

The shell is in the form of an elongated, towering spiral, which tapers to a fine point. The aperture is ovate and entire with the peristome incomplete behind. The outer lip is thick and even.

According to George Washington Tryon's Manual of Conchology:

The imperforate shell is subulate, many-whorled, polished, and porcellanous Its spire is usually curved or twisted to one side, bearing on one side only, a series of varices forming ribs internally and marking the position of successive mouths. The apex is acute. The aperture is oval, entire, pointed above, rounded below. The lip is simple and a little thickened. The columellar margin is reflected. The operculum is corneous and pancispiral. Its nucleus is near the inner lip.

The animal shows subulate tentacles, approaching at the base. The eyes are large and nearly sessile. The foot is truncated in front. The foot of Eulima secretes a mucous filament which assists to sustain it in the water. The mentum is bilobed. The opercular lobe is winged on each side. The branchial plume is single.

Species

Species within the genus Eulima include:

References

  1. 1 2 3 Eulima Risso, 1826. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 5 January 2019.
  2. ↑ Macgillivray, William (1844). History of the molluscous animals of Scotland – via archive.org.
  3. ↑ Tryon, G. W. (1886). Manual of Conchology. Part VIII – via archive.org.