Smooth awl

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Smooth awl
Systematics
Subordination : Hypsogastropoda
Partial order : Littorinimorpha
Superfamily : Vanicoroidea
Family : Eulimidae
Genre : Melanella
Type : Smooth awl
Scientific name
Melanella lubrica
( Monterosato , 1890)

The Smooth Pfriemschnecke ( Melanella lubrica ) is a worm - type from the family of eulimidae (genus Melanella ), as Ectoparasite of sea cucumbers lives and in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean is widespread.

features

Melanella lubrica has a tall, narrow, conical, highly shiny and almost opaque snail shell , which in adult snails can reach a length of 9 mm and a width of around 3 mm. The thread is straight and can have more than 13 turns. These are a little more swollen and also have a more clearly visible seam. They are sculptured with regular growth stripes and also with very fine, clearly recognizable spiral lines about 8 µm apart. The periphery of the body is more angled than in the curved awl , but less than in the white awl . The circumference of the body takes up about two fifths of the total length of the case, the mouth of the case about a quarter. The case mouth is about a third as wide as it is long. The outer lip shows a smooth curve in the side view and is inclined backwards towards the apex.

As with Melanella alba, the head forms a flat protrusion with two narrow antennae at the front and a trunk that can be turned in and out on the underside. There is a black eye behind each of the two antennae that are brought closer together . The coat does not form a feeler. Behind the right antennae, the male has a curved penis with a dorsal open sperm channel. The foot is quite small and carries an operculum . The snail is all white.

Distribution and way of life

Melanella lubrica is widespread in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean from Spain to Norway , but probably also in the Öresund and the German Bight .

The snail lives on mud, sand and gravel at depths of 14 to 100 m. It sucks body juices from sea ​​cucumbers , which it visits temporarily to eat.

literature

  • Bernhard Klausnitzer: Stresemann - excursion fauna of Germany. Volume 1: Invertebrates (excluding insects). Springer-Verlag, Berlin 2019. p. 172.

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