Naticarius

Naticarius orientalis

Naticarius is a genus of moon snails ( Naticidae ). It was described by Dumeril in 1806 for the first time. Frequently Naticarius is also regarded as a subgenus of the genus Natica.

Appearance

As the species of the genus Natica usually have the Naticarius species a small to medium-sized, spherical housing with few, rapidly increasing whorls. The thread is often not very high and has a flat apex on. The shell surface is generally smooth and usually shows a typical coloring or drawing ( eg Naticarius onca ), which allows a determination of the different species in most cases. The housing is sealed at risk by a calcareous operculum. In contrast to species of the genus Natica, the operculum of Naticarius types arranged in a circle, parallel grooves on ( multisulcate ).

Way of life

The species of the genus Naticarius are typical soft- bottom dwellers, which are found predominantly in tropical and subtropical regions. With her foot swellable they plow through the sand for other molluscs. Due to their specially shaped radula it is possible for them to pierce the shells of sea snails and clams and suck the soft tissues.

System

The type species of the genus Naticarius is Naticarius carena (subsequent monotypic assignment by Froriep in 1806 ).

Species of the genus Naticarius

• Naticarius alapapilionis ( Röding, 1798)
• Naticarius canrena (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Naticarius concinnus ( Dunker, 1860)
• Naticarius colliei ( Récluz, 1844)
• Naticarius hebraeus ( Martyn, 1786)
• Naticarius onca ( Röding, 1798)
• Naticarius orientalis ( Gmelin, 1791)
• Naticarius sertatus ( Menke, 1843)
• Naticarius stercusmuscarum ( Gmelin, 1791)
• Naticarius zonalis ( Récluz, 1850)