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Strombus lentiginosus

Strombus lentiginosus (*)

Cladus: Eukaryota
Supergroup: Opisthokonta
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Protostomia
Cladus: Spiralia
Cladus: Lophotrochozoa
Phylum: Mollusca
Classis: Gastropoda
Subclassis: Orthogastropoda
Superordo: Caenogastropoda
Ordo: Sorbeoconcha
Subordo: Hypsogastropoda
Infraordo: Littorinimorpha
Superfamilia: Stromboidea
Familia: Strombidae
Subfamilia: Strombinae
Genus: Strombus
Species: S. lentiginosus

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Strombus lentiginosus, common name the silver conch, is a species of medium-sized sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.


Shell description

The maximum shell length of this species is 100 mm, but more commonly it grows up to 75 mm.[1]

As is the case in many of the Strombidae, the adult shell of Strombus lentiginosus is very heavy and thick, with a characteristic very deep stromboid notch, and a flared, very thick and posteriorly expanded outer lip. The columella is anteriorly projected, and the siphonal canal is convex. The body whorl has a notably irregular surface, which is ornamented by spiral cords and rows of blunt tubercles that form elevated knobs on the shoulder.[1] The inner lip is smooth, with an large callus that often spreads over the spire and over the body whorl. The shell has a tall spire, and each whorl of the spire has a row of heavy knobs and groves that nearly completely fold over each other.

The shell color is usually white with large irregular brown blotches and dots occurring at intervals over the shell surface. The columellar callus has a characteristic faint silvery gloss.[1] The lateral margin of the outer lips has a series of tan blotches. The aperture is pink to orange on the interior, becoming paler towards the margins.[1]
[edit] Distribution

Strombus lentiginosus is widespread in the Indo-Pacific, from East Africa, including Aldabra, Madagascar, Mauritius and Tanzania to eastern Polynesia, and also in southern Japan and northern Australia.[1][2]

Ecology

Habitat

This sea snail lives on coral and sandy bottoms in clear water. It is commonly found on barrier or lagoon reefs, in intertidal and shallow subtidal zones to a depth of around 4 m.[1] It is rarely seen buried in the sand.[3]

Feeding habits


other species of the genus Strombus, S. lentiginosus is known to be a herbivore.
[edit] Human uses

The flesh of Strombus lentiginosus is edible, and it is locally collected for food.

The shell is used in shellcraft, and is commonly sold in local markets around the central Philippines.[1]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Poutiers, J. M. (1998). Gastropods in: FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes: The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific Volume 1. Seaweeds, corals, bivalves and gastropods. Rome, FAO, 1998. page 474.
2. ^ Strombus lentiginosus Linnaeus, 1758. World Register of Marine Species, accessed 10 April 2010.
3. ^ Johnson, S. (1977). Notes on the Shells Of Kwajalein Atoll. Hawaiian Shell News. Vol 25, no 11. Hawaiian Malacological Society.

Biology Encyclopedia

Mollusca Images

Source: Wikispecies,, Wikipedia: All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License