Mancinella armigera is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod, in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.[1][2] The species name means “bearing arms”.[3]
| Mancinella armigera | |
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_-_Muricidae_-_Mollusc_shell.jpeg)
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| Museum specimen | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Neogastropoda |
| Superfamily: | Muricoidea |
| Family: | Muricidae |
| Subfamily: | Rapaninae |
| Genus: | Mancinella |
| Species: | M. armigera
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| Binomial name | |
| Mancinella armigera Link, 1807
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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Description edit
These large drupes have thick , spindle shaped shells covered by blunt tubercles, the aperture is yellowish brown.[3] But they are harmless to humans.[4] The shell is biconic, spire projecting and massive with two rows of projecting noodles on the last whorl, white in color with a yellow aperture.[5] The spire is projecting and acuminate, the suture is shallow.[5] There are eight axial ribs with two rows of prominent tubercles encircling the last whorl and a single spiral of tubercles on the other whorls, as well as a spiral sculpture of fine striae.[5] The aperture is ovate, the outer lips slightly thickened, with six denticles and a columella with a single absolute plait and a moderately developed siphonal fasciole.[5] The shell is often covered with a thick calcareous deposit.[5] The size of an adult shell varies between 50mm and 105.5mm. The shells are typically covered with a pink coralline algae.
Biology edit
This species is a non broadcast spawner. Life cycle does not include trochophore stage. [4]
Distribution edit
This species is distributed in the Indian Ocean along Chagos, the Aldabra Atoll and Tanzania; in the Pacific Ocean along Japan.
Habitat edit
These gastropods occur at the outer edge of fringing reefs and subtitle lava shoulders exposed to heavy wave action.[5] They are common along some exposed rocky coasts at depths of 10-40ft[3] and they often occur in pairs.
Human uses edit
Collected for food by coastal populations.[4]
References edit
- ^ a b MolluscaBase (2018). Mancinella armigera Link, 1807. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=396999 on 2019-01-06
- ^ Claremont M., Vermeij G.J., Williams S.T. & Reid D.G. (2013) Global phylogeny and new classification of the Rapaninae (Gastropoda: Muricidae), dominant molluscan predators on tropical rocky seashores. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 66: 91–102. [Published online 28 September 2012; Code-compliant paper version published January 2013]
- ^ a b c Hoover, John P. (2010). Hawai'i's sea creatures : a guide to Hawai'i's marine invertebrates. Mutual Pub. ISBN 978-1-56647-220-3. OCLC 1293454919.
- ^ a b c "Thais armigera, Belligerent rock shell". www.sealifebase.ca. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Kay, E. Alison (1979). Hawaiian marine shells. Honolulu, Hawaii: Bishop Museum Press. ISBN 0-910240-26-4. OCLC 5954550.
- Spry, J.F. (1961). The sea shells of Dar es Salaam: Gastropods. Tanganyika Notes and Records 56
External links edit
- Link, D.H.F. (1807-1808). Beschreibung der Naturalien-Sammlung der Universität zu Rostock. Adlers Erben
- Reeve, L. A. (1846). Monograph of the genus Purpura. In: Conchologia iconica, or, illustrations of the shells of molluscous animals, Vol. 3. L. Reeve & Co., London. Pls. 1-13 and unpaginated text
- "Reishia armigera". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
Media related to Mancinella armigera at Wikimedia Commons
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