Turbinellidae
Turbinella laevigata
The Turbinellidae are a family of mostly large and very large, exclusively marine snails that are found worldwide in tropical seas, usually in shallow water, some species in the deep sea. The representatives of the family are carnivores that feed on annelids and spray worms.
Features
The thick and heavy, double conical to spindle- shaped housing of Turbinellidae a short to long Siphonalkanal and a rough surface, often with nodes and spines that are spirally run and oriented towards the apex. The inner lip of the case mouth usually has strong wrinkles. The columella may be smooth or have some basal spiral folds. Often the housing have reddish hues. The operculum is horny, thick and flashy claw- shaped with a terminal nucleus.
The snails have a small head with a long proboscis and sit sensors, at their base outside the eyes. The foot is broad and forward sometimes bilobed.
The animals are dioecious with internal fertilization. Eggs are laid in strips or braids of thick egg capsules. In all previously studied the effect Turbinellidae the embryos develop in the egg capsules to finished young snails.
Life, the occurrence and distribution
The Turbinellidae are widespread in tropical and subtropical seas around the world. They live in the marine environment on coral reefs, gravel or sand. The types of Turbinellidae are carnivores that feed primarily or exclusively by polychaete worms and spray.
The Turbinellidae include, among others living in the western Atlantic Turbinella angulata, on the coast of Brazil Turbinella laevigata, in the Indo-Pacific, the Real Birnschnecke ( Turbinella pyrum ) and on the Australian coast, the Great trunk worm ( Syrinx aruanus ), with up to 91 cm Length of housing the largest snail in the world. The genus of the vases snails ( Vasum ) include globulus among others, the widespread Indo-Pacific species Vasum turbinellus and Vasum ceramicum, living along the coast of East Africa Vasum rhinoceros and with up to 4 cm length housing rather small Caribbean style Vasum.
System
After Bouchet and Rocroi ( 2005), the family Turbinellidae one of twelve extant families in the superfamily Muricoidea. You divide the family Turbinellidae into four subfamilies:
- Columbariinae Tomlin, 1928
- Tudiclinae Cossmann, 1901
- Turbinellinae Swainson, 1835
- Vasinae H.Adams & A.Adams, 1853