''Tectonatica violacea'', is a common name the violet moon snail, is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
predatory
Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill th ...
sea snail
Sea snail is a common name for slow-moving marine gastropod molluscs, usually with visible external shells, such as whelk or abalone. They share the taxonomic class Gastropoda with slugs, which are distinguished from snails primarily by the ...
, a
marine
Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean.
Marine or marines may refer to:
Ocean
* Maritime (disambiguation)
* Marine art
* Marine biology
* Marine debris
* Marine habitats
* Marine life
* Marine pollution
Military
* ...
gastropod
The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda ().
This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, from freshwater, and from land. T ...
mollusk
Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is e ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Naticidae
Naticidae, common name moon snails or necklace shells, is a family (biology), family of medium to large-sized predatory sea snails, marine (ocean), marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Littorinimorpha. The shells of the species in this family a ...
, the moon snails.
Description
The size of the shell varies between 12 mm and 25 mm.
Distribution
This species occurs in the Indo-West Pacific off the
Mascarene
The Mascarene Islands (, ) or Mascarenes or Mascarenhas Archipelago is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar consisting of the islands belonging to the Republic of Mauritius as well as the French department of Réunion. Their ...
Basin; also off the
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
and Australia (
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
)
References
* Sowerby, G.B. (1st) 1825. ''A catalogue of the shells contained in the collection of the late Earl of Tankerville : arranged according to the Lamarckian conchological system: together with an appendix, containing descriptions of many new species.'' London : printed by E.J. Stirling for G.B. Sowerby vii, 92 pp. + appendix of xxiv pp. + coloured plates.
* Wood, W. 1828. ''Index Testaceologicus; or A Catalogue of Shells, British and Foreign, arranged according to the Linnean system''. London : Taylor Supplement, pp. 1–59, pls 1-8.
* Philippi, R.A. 1852. ''Die Gattungen Natica und Amaura.'' pp. 27–120 in Küster, H.C., Martini, F.W. & Chemnitz, J.H. (eds). Systematisches Conchylien-Cabinet von Martini und Chemnitz. Nürnberg : Bauer & Raspe Vol. 2.
* Cernohorsky, W.O. 1971. ''The family Naticidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in the Fiji Islands.'' Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum 8: 169-208
* Kilburn, R.N. 1976. ''A revision of the Naticidae of Southern Africa and Moçambique (Mollusca)''. Annals of the Natal Museum 22(3): 829-884
* Wilson, B. 1993. Australian Marine Shells. Prosobranch Gastropods. Kallaroo, Western Australia : Odyssey Publishing Vol. 1 408 pp.
* Kabat, A.R. 1996. ''Biogeography of the genera of Naticidae (Gastropoda) in the Indo-Pacific''. American Malacological Bulletin 12(1/2): 29-35
External links
Kabat A.R. (2000) ''Results of the Rumphius Biohistorical Expedition to Ambon (1990). Part 10. Mollusca, Gastropoda, Naticidae.'' Zoologische Mededelingen 73(25): 345-380
Naticidae
Gastropods described in 1825
{{Naticidae-stub