Haustellum haustellum

Housing of Haustellum haustellum

The Schnepf head, beak or snipe Creator ( Haustellum haustellum ) is a snail from the family of whelks ( Muricidae ), which is widespread in the Indo-Pacific. It feeds on carrion, among others.

Features

The brownish red and yellow, covered with red-brown stripes shell of Haustellum haustellum, which reaches a length of up to 10 to 15 cm in adult worm, has a globose bulbous body dealing with three transverse rows of tubercles between the beads, a short thread and a very long and thin Siphonalkanal. The case mouth is almost circular, furrowed at the entrance and inside smooth and white. Towards the spindle of the lip edge completes the estuary. Spines on the housing missing. The operculum is horny.

Dissemination

The Schnepf head is widespread in the Indo-Pacific; in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean from the coast of East Africa eastward to Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands, to the Pacific Ocean to Melanesia, from Japan to Queensland (Australia) and New Caledonia.

Habitat

The Schnepf head lives on sand and gravel in the intertidal zone and below up to 90 m depth.

Food

Haustellum haustellum feeds, among other things, on carrion.

Relevance to humans

Haustellum haustellum, long time under the original name Murex haustellum Linnaeus known. The species is collected for their meat and for their skins, which is sold as jewelry.