''Umbonium vestiarium'',
common name
In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...
the button tops, 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
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
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 ...
Trochidae
The Trochidae, common name top-snails or top-shells, are a family of various sized sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the subclass Vetigastropoda. This family is commonly known as the top-snails because in many species the shell resembles ...
, the top snails.
Description
The solid, rounded shells are up to 2 cm wide. They are similar to ''
Oxystele
''Oxystele'' is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Trochidae, the top snails. Although previously suggested as a subgenus of ''Diloma'', genetic analysis has shown it to be more appropriate as its own genus.
Descripti ...
'' but are more flattened and show a glossy, highly variable and colourfully patterned exterior.
Habitat
They can be found on
eulittoral sand.
Distribution
Indo-Pacific.
Use
In Vietnam, they are called "ốc ruốc" and commonly sold as a snack.
References
*
Gastropods described in 1758
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
vestiarium
{{Trochidae-stub