Tonna perdix

Tonna perdix, Lydekker R. (ed. ) ( 1896). The royal natural history 6 (section 12): p. 382

The partridge -ton screw or partridge - tun ( Tonna perdix ) is a snail from the family of tons of snails ( genus Tonna ), which is widespread in the Indo-Pacific. It feeds on sea cucumbers.

Features

The elongated ovoid, inflated shell of Tonna perdix has a braunrotgelb colored surface with white crescent-shaped spots and is much like the feathers of partridges in rows drawn square. The tapered thread protrudes unlike Tonna galea out clearly. As with all tons of snails, the housing is lightweight, thin-walled and provided with convex ribs that follow the convolutions so that the housing edge is wavy. They stand close together. The house achieved in adult snails around 15 cm, sometimes up to 23 cm in length. The foot is very large, the Sipho long. The proboscis ( snout ) is armed with hooks. The sensors have two stripes, and the eyes sit on overgrown stems. The body is bluish white with reddish spots.

Dissemination

The partridge -ton worm is spreading in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean to Aldabra, Chagos, Madagascar, the Mascarene Islands, Mauritius and Tanzania as well as in the Pacific Ocean around New Zealand and the Galapagos Islands.

Habitat

Partridge tons of snails prefer a sea depth of 5 to 10 meters and occur up to 20 deep.

Food

Tonna perdix feeding on echinoderms. Preferred prey are sea cucumbers, including several species of the genera Holothuria and Stichopus. The prey is stunned with the acidic saliva of the screw and dissolved the limestone skeleton.