- Source: Antalis vulgaris
Antalis vulgaris, commonly known as the common tusk shell, is a species of scaphopods mainly encountered on sandy bottoms from 5 to 1000 meters depth.
Description
Antalis vulgaris is a small mollusc of 3 to 6 cm length with a characteristic elephant tusk shape. Its shell is opaque white and displays closely spaced longitudinal striations on the posterior portion. The anterior aperture (thinnest end) is circular and is occluded by a septum with a central pipe bearing a circular orifice.
Distribution
The common tusk shell is found from south-western United Kingdom to western Mediterranean.
= Diet
=The species stands vertically in soft grounds and search the sand with specific adhesive tentacles (captacula) for small benthic species such as foraminifera.
= Reproduction
=Separated sexes. The fecundation is external and gives rise to planktonic larvae called trochophore.
Similar species
Antalis entalis (Linnaeus, 1758) is smaller (4cm), has a pyriform-shaped anterior orifice and has no longitudinal striations.
Fustiaria rubescens (Deshayes, 1825) is smaller (3.5cm) and has a pink coloration.
Ditrupa arietina (O. F. Müller, 1776) is an annelid belonging to the polychaete class and living in a calcified conical tube.
References
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Antalis vulgaris
- Antalis
- Mollusc shell
- Dentaliidae
- List of marine molluscs of Ireland
- List of mollusc orders
- List of marine molluscs of Montenegro
- List of British Isles rockpool life
- Vermes in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae
- List of marine molluscs of South Africa
