Monoplex pilearis
Monoplex pilearis, common name the hairy triton, is a species of medium-sized predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cymatiidae.[1]
Monoplex pilearis | |
---|---|
A shell of Monoplex pilearis (Linnaeus, 1758) | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Clade: | Caenogastropoda |
Clade: | Hypsogastropoda |
Order: | Littorinimorpha |
Family: | Cymatiidae |
Genus: | Monoplex |
Species: | M. pilearis |
Binomial name | |
Monoplex pilearis (Linnaeus, 1758) | |
Synonyms[1] | |
|
Distribution
This species is widespread in the Atlantic, in the Red Sea and in the Indo-Western Pacific from East and South Africa, to eastern Polynesia, north to southern Japan and Hawaii and south to southern Queensland.[2][3][4][5]
Habitat
This tropical benthic sea snails can be found at a depth range of 0 – 50 m.[4] They mainly live on hard and coarse detritic bottoms, in coral reef areas.[5]
Description
Shells of Monoplex pilearis can reach a size of 38–140 millimetres (1.5–5.5 in).[2] These large shells are elongate with a tall spire and a strongly inflated body whorl. They show a yellowish-brown surface with chestnut- brown spiral ribs. The columella and the aperture are dark brown with white teeth.[6] The outer sculpture is relatively fine, with long inner ridges of the outer lip, extending deep into the aperture.[5]
Biology
These sea snails are active predators. They are reported as feeding on bivalves. Eggs are laid on the substrate in large capsules clustered in masses.[5]
References
- Monoplex pilearis (Linnaeus, 1758). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 5 December 2018.
- Hardy's Internet Guide to Marine Gastropods
- Galli C.: WMSDB - Worldwide Mollusc Species Data Base
- Sea Life Base
- Cymatium pileare at FAO.org
- Angeline Myra Keen Sea Shells of Tropical West America: Marine Mollusks from Baja California to Peru
- Beu, A. (2010). Catalogue of Tonnoidea
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Monoplex pilearis. |