Scorpion snail
| Scorpion snail | ||||||||||||
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Housing of Homalocantha scorpio , 35.6 mm long, from the bycatch at Mandawe , Cebu , Philippines |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Homalocantha scorpio | ||||||||||||
| ( Linnaeus , 1758) |
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The scorpion snail ( Homalocantha scorpio ) is a snail from the family of spiny snails (Muricidae), which is widespread in the Indo-Pacific .
features
The elongated, somewhat head-shaped snail shell of Homalocantha scorpio , which reaches a length of up to 5.5 cm in adult snails, has a large body circumference that takes up 70 to 80 percent of the length of the shell, a very short thread and a small one , round mouth that ends in a rather short siphon channel. The case is studded with five rows of rungs, which are spread out almost like a hand at the top. The black beads are serrated, the last bead is larger with much larger, at the end more hammer-shaped rungs. The seam on the last handle is tied up. The basic color is pale reddish, fading into brown, but can also vary from white to chocolate brown. The mouth is white.
Distribution, habitat and way of life
The scorpion snail occurs in the Indo-Pacific , for example in the Red Sea , the Moluccas and the Philippines , where it can be found on coral reefs . So far there have been no scientific studies on the way of life, nutrition, reproductive cycle or the anatomy of the snail.
Importance to humans
Homalocantha scorpio , long known by the original name Murex scorpio by Linnaeus , is collected for its case, which is sold as jewelry.
Individual evidence
- ^ C. Brüggemann: The natural history in faithful illustrations and with a detailed description of the same. Eduard Eisenach publisher, Leipzig 1838. The molluscs. P. 73. The scorpion. Murex Scorpio L.
- ^ A b Julia Ellen Rogers: The Shell Book. Doubleday, Page & Company, New York 1908, p. 33: The Scorpion Murex. Murex scorpio Linn.
- ↑ Carolus Linnaeus : Systema Naturae. 10th ed., Lars Salvius: Stockholm 1758, pp. 747. 447. Murex Scorpio. M. testa quadrifariam frondosa, spira capitata, cauda truncata.
- ↑ World Register of Marine Species , Homalocantha scorpio (Linnaeus, 1758)
literature
- GE Radwin, A. D'Attilio: Murex shells of the world. An illustrated guide to the Muricidae. Stanford University Press, 1976, ISBN 978-0-8047-0897-5 , x + pp. 1-284 incl 192 figs. + 32 pls. Homalocantha scorpio (Linné, 1758) : p. 54.
