• Source: Zafra (gastropod)

Zafra is a large genus of sea snails in the family Columbellidae, the dove snails.




Description


The shells are typically small. They are elongated and conical, often featuring sculptured patterns of fine ribs or spiral ridges. The aperture of the shell is usually narrow and elongated, with a distinct, but short siphonal canal. The shells are often adorned with intricate patterns, including coloration variations.




Distribution


These gastropods are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical seas, inhabiting various marine environments such as rocky shores, sandy bottoms, and coral reefs.




Feeding behavior


Zafra snails are carnivorous predators. They use a specialized proboscis to capture and consume their prey. Once captured, the prey is immobilized, and digestive enzymes are secreted to break down the tissues for ingestion.




Species


As of August 2020, there are about 80 species within the genus Zafra:

Synonyms:
Zafra albomarginata Okamoto & Habe, 1979: synonym of Mokumea albomarginata (Okamoto & Habe, 1979) (original combination)
Zafra almiranta Hedley, 1915: synonym of Zafra darwini (Angas, 1877)
Zafra altispira Bozzetti, 2008: synonym of Smithena altispira (Bozzetti, 2008)
Zafra avicennia Hedley, 1915: synonym of Zafra pumila (Dunker, 1860)
Zafra comistea (Melvill, 1906): synonym of Seminella comistea (Melvill, 1906)
Zafra minuscula (Gould, 1860): synonym of Zafra pumila (Dunker, 1860)
Zafra pascua Hertlein, 1962: synonym of Nodochila pascua (Hertlein, 1962) (original combination)
Zafra paumotensis (Tryon, 1883): synonym of Mitropsis paumotensis (Tryon, 1883)
Zafra peasei (E. von Martens & Langkavel, 1871): synonym of Seminella peasei (E. von Martens & Langkavel, 1871) (superseded combination)
Zafra polita G. Nevill & H. Nevill, 1875: synonym of Ascalista polita (G. Nevill & H. Nevill, 1875) (original combination)
Zafra pupoidea H. Adams, 1872: synonym of Iredalea pupoidea (H. Adams, 1872) (superseded combination)
Zafra purpurea H. Adams, 1873: synonym of Seminella peasei (E. von Martens & Langkavel, 1871) (junior subjective synonym)
Zafra sinensis (G. B. Sowerby III, 1894): synonym of Zafra troglodytes (Souverbie, 1866)
Zafra validicosta Habe, 1960: synonym of Zafra mitriformis A. Adams, 1860
Zafra virginea (Gould, 1860): synonym of Seminella virginea (Gould, 1860)




References






External links



Adams, A. (1860). On some new genera and species of Mollusca from Japan. Annals and Magazine of Natural History. (3) 6: 331–337

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Zafra (gastropod)
• Zafra (disambiguation)
• Zafra juttingae
• Zafra impedita
• Zafra aequatorialis
• Zafra vercoi
• Zafra salutaris
• Zafra niasensis
• Zafra semiclatriata
• Zafra opihiensis