Strombidae
Large conch ( Lobatus gigas) looks with their lens eyes from her veralgten shell. The left to right whisker seeing projects through all pteropods characterizing Stromboid - notch, the right to be seen by the left sensor Siphonalkanal.
The pteropods ( Strombidae ) are a family of marine snails that live in the tropical and subtropical areas.
Features
The pteropods have large, provided in many species with spines and other excesses housing. Characteristic of the family is a U- shaped indentation on the front edge of the elongated housing, the sg Stromboid - notch. The well-developed lens eyes are set on long antennae, of which small, thin antennas branch off to the keys. Observed a wing screw their surroundings, looking left eye by the Stromboid - notch and the right by the Siphonalkanal which otherwise meets the Sipho takes. Characteristic of the conch is also the claw-like horny operculum, with the help of which can be all kinds move quite fast, by anchoring the same in the substrate and retract the foot jerky.
Way of life
Pteropods live in tropical and subtropical seas of sand and mud bottoms. They feed on algae and detritus. The Strombidae lay their eggs in long gelatinous ribbons, which are covered with sand and pebbles. From them slip planktonic veliger larvae.
Dissemination
The majority of pteropods, about 40 species are distributed in the Indo-Pacific. Here you will find, among other representatives of the genus Lambi, the sg Spiders, snails that finger-like projections on their housing estuary. Common examples are the spinning auger ( lambis lambis ) and the Scorpion conch ( Lambis scorpius ). Even the Great boat hook ( Harpago chiragra ) and the dog - conch ( Canarium Laevistrombus ) live there. Other species of the family are in the eastern Pacific and a single species on Africa's Atlantic coast. Six winged snails species occur in the western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, including the Great Queen Conch ( Lobatus gigas), the Red Queen Conch (Strombus pugilis ) and the Florida queen conch (Strombus alatus ). The largest species of the family is occurring on the Atlantic coast of Brazil kind Lobatus goliath, which reaches approximately 40 cm housing length.
Endangering
The giant conch ( Large conch, Strombus gigas) from the Caribbean whose housing may reach a length of 30 centimeters, is already severely compromised by excessive collecting. It is popular in the raw and cooked state as a delicacy. The housings are sold as souvenirs to tourists. Lambis truncata is 35 centimeters greater.
System
The family is currently divided into two subfamilies:
- Strombinae Rafinesque, 1815
- Rostellariinae Gabb, 1868