Novastoa

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Novastoa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Orthogastropoda
Superorder: Caenogastropoda
Order: Sorbeoconcha
Suborder: Hypsogastropoda
Family: Vermetidae
Genus: Novastoa
Finlay, 1927
Species

See text.

Novastoa is a genus of sea snails known as "worm shells" or "worm snails". These are marine gastropod molluscs in the family Vermetidae, the worm snails.

Novastoa snails have shells which are long and irregular. They do not have regular coiling like that of a typical gastropod shell, and they are usually cemented onto a hard surface. Because of all this, the shells resemble those of certain marine worms.

[edit] Shell description

These snails have elongated tubular shells, moulded to the surface of attachment, and with the apertural part usually free, the opening directed upward. An operculum is present. Damaged sections of the shell can be sealed off by calcareous septa when necessary. Shells in this genus are attached singly to other bodies, or formed into large communal masses.

[edit] Species within the genus Novastoa

[edit] References