Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Superfamily: Buccinoidea
Family: Fasciolariidea
Genus: Pleuroploca
Species: P. gigantea
Binomial Name:
Pleuroploca gigantea
This shell is commonly known as the Florida Horse Conch, but it is not a true conch. It is a species of large predatory subtropical and tropical sea snail. It is one of the largest gastropods in the world and the largest that lives in American water. They are found along the Atlantic coast from North Carolina through the Gulf of Mexico.
The shell is designed so the entire body of the snail can retreat into it; it can stay inside for months to stay safe from bad conditions. The shell can reach 24 inches in length. It is somewhat fusiform. A long siphonal canal is the tube-like extension which acts as a siphon when the snail is inside. It can have up to ten whorls (360 degree turn in the spiral growth of the shell), several spinal cords and axial ribs. When it is younger it is bright orange but the color fades with age.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Superfamily: Buccinoidea
Family: Fasciolariidea
Genus: Pleuroploca
Species: P. gigantea
Binomial Name:
Pleuroploca gigantea
This shell is commonly known as the Florida Horse Conch, but it is not a true conch. It is a species of large predatory subtropical and tropical sea snail. It is one of the largest gastropods in the world and the largest that lives in American water. They are found along the Atlantic coast from North Carolina through the Gulf of Mexico.
The shell is designed so the entire body of the snail can retreat into it; it can stay inside for months to stay safe from bad conditions. The shell can reach 24 inches in length. It is somewhat fusiform. A long siphonal canal is the tube-like extension which acts as a siphon when the snail is inside. It can have up to ten whorls (360 degree turn in the spiral growth of the shell), several spinal cords and axial ribs. When it is younger it is bright orange but the color fades with age.
No comments:
Post a Comment