Euthria cornea

Euthria cornea, common name : the spindle euthria, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Buccinidae, the true whelks.[1]

Euthria cornea
Temporal range: Miocene - Recent
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Caenogastropoda
clade Hypsogastropoda
clade Neogastropoda
Superfamily:
Buccinoidea
Family:
Buccinidae
Subfamily:
Buccininae
Genus:
Euthria
Species:
E. cornea
Binomial name
Euthria cornea
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms[1][2]
  • Buccinulum corneum (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Murex conulus Olivi, A.G., 1792
  • Murex corneus Linnaeus, 1758 (basionym)
  • Euthria lignarius Lamarck, J.B.P.A. de, 1816

Fossil reports

The fossil record of this species dates back to the Miocene (age range: from 11.608 to 7.246 million years ago). These fossils have been found in Italy.[3]

Fossil shell of Euthria cornea from Pliocene of Italy

Description

The shell size of Euthria cornea varies between 20mm and 80 mm.[2] This mollusk has a robust fusiform shell, with a sharp apex. The opening is oval, wide, with slight striae. The horny operculum is oval. The coloration of the shell is quite variable, with irregular dark spots on a brownish-gray background. The mollusk is orange. This predatory species mainly feeds on small bivalves, opening slightly the valves with the strong foot and sucking the tissues.[4]

Distribution and habitat

This species is distributed in the Atlantic Ocean along Portugal and Morocco and in the Mediterranean Sea.[2] It can be found at depths of 5 to 30 m, mainly on rocky substrates.[4]

References
  1. Euthria cornea (Linnaeus, 1758). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 30 October 2010.
  2. Gastropods.com = Euthria cornea; accessed :
  3. Fossilworks
  4. Paleofox
  • Gofas, S.; Le Renard, J.; Bouchet, P. (2001). Mollusca, in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels, 50: pp. 180–213


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