Vermetus triquetrus
| Vermetus triquetrus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Fossil of Vermetus triquetrus from Pliocene of Italy | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| (unranked): | clade Caenogastropoda clade Hypsogastropoda clade Littorinimorpha |
| Superfamily: | Vermetoidea |
| Family: | Vermetidae |
| Subfamily: | Vermetinae |
| Genus: | Vermetus |
| Species: | V. triquetrus |
| Binomial name | |
| Vermetus triquetrus Bivona Ant., 1832 | |
Vermetus triquetrus is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Vermetidae, the worm snails or worm shells.[1]
The genus Vermetus is very ancient. It is known in the fossil records from the Jurassic to the Quaternary (age range: from 164.7 to 0.0 million years ago). [2]
Description
These sea snails are characterized by an unusual appearance and lifecycle. Young mollusks do not differ from other snails, as they have a conical, spiral shells. Later they fasten to the hard substrate with calcareous secretions and the shells takes the form of irregular tubes. The length of the shell is about 30–50 millimetres (1.2–2.0 in) and the roughly triangular tube section can reach up to 6 mm. The small operculum is concave. The small mollusk is a sessile gastropod lying and living permanently in its tube.[2][3]
Distribution and habitat
Vermetus triquetrus is widespread in the Mediterraneal Sea and in the North Atlantic Ocean. This species inhabits the coastal waters. [2][4]
Bibliography
- Keen A.M., A proposed reclassification of the gastropod family Vermetidae in Bullettin of the British Museum (Natural History), vol. 7, nº 3, 1961, pp. 181-213
References
- ↑ Vermetus triquetrus Bivona Ant., 1832. Gofas, S. (2009). Vermetus triquetrus Bivona Ant., 1832. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through the World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=141944 on 9 July 2010.
- 1 2 3 Fossilworks
- ↑ DORIS
- ↑ Animalbase