Melo amphora

Melo amphora in situ

The Diadem auger flight ( Melo amphora ) is a very large snail from the family of auger flights ( genus Melo ), which is spread over the central Indo-Pacific. It feeds on snails and mussels.

Features

The very large, roundish oval shell of Melo amphora, which reaches a length of about 30 cm, sometimes up to 50 cm in adult snails, has very short, blunt threads that barely protrudes from the huge, bloated body handling, and a smooth, dome-shaped apex. The canted whorls are occupied up to the edge with protruding, furrowed spines that are no longer formed at the advanced age of the screw. The wide- open case mouth is almost as long as the housing and has a rather thin, curved edge. The columella has three oblique folds. Instead of a Siphonalkanals a wide-open notch is formed. An operculum is missing.

Which is provided with highly visible growth lines axial outer surface of the house may vary in color. It is usually white or creamy orange and covered with axially extending orange to chocolate brown zigzag lines, surround the pale triangular spots. 2 wide spirally extending bands of dark brown spots are often present. The shiny interior of the housing is usually cream color to bright orange, sometimes at the mouth edge brighter.

The worm itself is similar to other species of the genus Melo drawn in black with white spots. She has a wide foot and a long siphon.

Dissemination

The diadem - roll snail lives in the central Indo-Pacific waters in Indonesia, on the south coast of New Guinea and the northern coast of Australia.

Habitat and behavior

The diadem - roll snail lives in the intertidal zone and below up to 10 m depth, mainly on sandy or muddy ground.

Melo amphora eats mussels and snails, including large species of the families of the roller screw, centrifugal snails ( Trochus niloticus, for example ), sea hares and giant clams. The prey is includes with the foot.

Life cycle

Like other Neuschnecken Melo amphora is dioecious. The male mated the female with his penis. The female lays at the start of the southern summer bales from several egg capsules from. The development of the finished screw is completely through the egg capsule, so that after a few months slip finished worm. The young snails hatching have about 18 to 25 mm long housing.

Human use and hazard

Melo amphora is collected because of their housing, which is sold as jewelry. In addition, the meat is eaten. The shell is also used as a water container as well as for scooping water from boats.