Fasciolariidae
Fusinus monksae
The Fasciolariidae are a family of small to very large, exclusively marine snails that are found in tropical and temperate seas worldwide. The representatives of the family are carnivores.
Features
The spindle- shaped, dual conical housing of Fasciolariidae have an elongated threaded, oval case mouth and a medium length to long Siphonalkanal. They are large in adult worm 1 to 60 cm. The columella may be smooth or have some basal spiral folds. Often the housing have reddish hues. The operculum is horny, thick, ovate to claw-like. The radula has narrow middle teeth with three cusps and broad lateral teeth with numerous comb-like bumps.
The bright red snails have a small, narrow head with short antennae, outside the eyes are at their base, and a well-developed Sipho. The proboscis can be extended very far.
The animals are dioecious with internal fertilization. The eggs develop in egg capsules, which finished young snails escape in most species, in some cases, free-swimming veliger larvae metamorphose after a pelagic phase to the screw.
Life, the occurrence and distribution
The Fasciolariidae are widespread in all tropical and temperate seas worldwide. The greatest diversity of species, the family in the Indo-Pacific. They live in the marine environment on sand, mud or gravel. The types of Fasciolariidae are carnivores, which largely feed on snails, mussels, barnacles and polychaetes.
The Fasciolariidae include, among others living in the western Atlantic species Pleuroploca gigantea and the same place occurring True Tulips worm ( Fasciolaria Tulipa ).
System
After Bouchet and Rocroi ( 2005), the family Fasciolariidae one of six families in the superfamily Buccinoidea. You divide the family Fasciolariidae into three subfamilies:
- Fasciolariinae Gray, 1853
- Fusininae Wrigley, 1927 - Synonyms: Fusinae Swainson, 1840 ( inv ); Cyrtulidae MacDonald, 1869; Streptochetinae Cossmann, 1901
- Peristerniinae Tryon, 1880 - synonym: Latiridae Iredale, 1929