Volutella muricata

Volutella muricata
Two views of a shell of Volutella muricata without periostracum from Los Roques archipelago, Venezuela
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Turbinelloidea
Family: Vasidae
Genus: Volutella
Species:
V. muricata
Binomial name
Volutella muricata
(Born, 1778)
Synonyms
  • Turbinella pugillaris Lamarck, 1822
  • Vasum muricatum (Born, 1778) superseded combination
  • Vasum urna Röding, 1798
  • Voluta muricata Born, 1778 (original combination)
  • Volutella divergens Perry, 1810

Volutella muricata, common name the Caribbean vase, is a species of medium to large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Vasidae.

Description

Volutella muricata 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.

Distribution

This species is widespread in the Caribbean Sea. In Venezuela this species has been reported from the state of Falcon, Nueva Esparta and Dependencias Federales.

Habitat

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

References

  1. 1 2 Volutella muricata (Born, 1778). 17 February 2026. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species.
  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.