Cumia reticulata

Cumia reticulata
Shells of Cumia reticulata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Caenogastropoda
clade Hypsogastropoda
clade Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Buccinoidea
Family: Colubrariidae
Genus: Cumia
Species: C. reticulata
Binomial name
Cumia reticulata
Synonyms[1]
  • Colubraria reticulata (Blainville, 1829)
  • Colubraria reticulata var. profundorum Ardovini, 2014 (unavailable name: established as a variety after 1960)
  • Colubraria reticulata var. spongiarum (Kobelt, 1901)
  • Cumia decussata Bivona-Bernardi, 1838
  • Epidromus reticulatus'' (Blainville, 1829)
  • Epidromus reticulatus var. albina Monterosato, 1880
  • Epidromus reticulatus var. atra Monterosato, 1880
  • Epidromus reticulatus var. fasciata Monterosato, 1880
  • Epidromus reticulatus var. fulva Monterosato, 1880
  • Epidromus reticulatus var. minor Monterosato, 1880
  • Epidromus reticulatus var. nivea Monterosato, 1880
  • Epidromus reticulatus var. spongiarum Kobelt, 1901
  • Fusus intertextus (Helbling, 1779)
  • Murex (Fusus) intertextus Helbling, 1779
  • Murex calfius Brusina, 1870
  • Triton mediterraneum Sowerby G.B. II, 1833
  • Triton reticulatum de Blainville 1829
  • Triton turricolatum Deshayes, 1835
  • Tritonium bonanni Delle Chiaje, 1830

Cumia reticulata,[1] common name the false triton, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Colubrariidae.

It is commonly known as the vampire snail because it feeds on the blood of fishes when they are asleep. Colubraria reticulata are commonly found in rocky and coral environments that are tropical or subtropical and temperate seas.[2]

Description

The length of the shell varies between 10 mm and 64 mm.

Distribution

The type locality is Sicily. It also occurs off West Africa.

Feeding habits

The vampire snail possesses a long thin proboscis to feed on the blood of the fishes. Once contact is made between the proboscis and the skin of the fish, the proboscis extends its length to gain access to the blood vessel.[2]

Secretion of Bioactive Molecules

Upon contact with the skin, anesthetic is secreted to numb the area. Common anesthetics from protein families ShK, Turripeptide, ADA, and CAP-ShK were found to be present during hematophagy. In addition, anticoagulants such as PS1, Meprin, and Kunitz were also present to prevent blood clotting. Furthermore, vasopressives were found and because the proboscis is thin, it is hypothesized for vasopressives to increase blood pressure to allow maximization of blood income and feeding time.[2]

Turritoxin which is unique to the vampire snail, is also produced by coneshell. Although the function of turritoxin is specifically unknown to the vampire snail, scientists have looked towards coneshell and hypothesized that the use of turritoxin is of the same manner.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 Bouchet, P. (2010). Cumia reticulata (Blainville, 1829). In: MolluscaBase (2017). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=527497 on 2017-11-15
  2. 1 2 3 4 Modica, Maria; Lombardo, Fabrizio; Franchini, Paolo (2015). "The venomous cocktail of the vampire snail Colubraria reticulata (Mollusca, Gastropoda)" (PDF). BMC Genomics.
  • Gofas, S.; Le Renard, J.; Bouchet, P. (2001). Mollusca. in: Costello, M.J. et al. (eds), European Register of Marine Species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Patrimoines Naturels. 50: 180-213
  • Bernard, P.A. (Ed.) (1984). Coquillages du Gabon [Shells of Gabon]. Pierre A. Bernard: Libreville, Gabon. 140, 75 plates pp.
  • Ardovini R. (2014) Istituzione di una nuova varietà appartenente alla famiglia Colubrariidae Dall, 1904 nel Mediterraneo e revisione sistematica. Malacologia Mostra Mondiale 82: 6-8

Further reading

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.