Scutus

Scutus
a live Scutus sinensis
Dorsal view of a shell of Scutus breviculus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Vetigastropoda
Superfamily: Fissurelloidea
Family: Fissurellidae
Genus: Scutus
Blainville, 1817
Type species
Scutus antipodes Montfort, 1810
Synonyms[1]
  • Aviscutum Iredale, 1940
  • Nannoscutum Iredale, 1937
  • Parmophorus Blainville, 1817 (unnecessary substitute name for Scutus)
  • Scutum P. Fischer, 1885 (invalid: unjustified emendation of Scutus)
  • Scutus (Aviscutum) Iredale, 1940
Scutus
A live individual

Scutus is a genus of large sea snails or limpets with the common name "shield shells". These are marine gastropod molluscs in the family Fissurellidae, the keyhole limpets and slit limpets.[1]

Both the common name and the scientific name reflect the fact that the shells of species in this genus resemble a Roman shield.

Description

The animal itself has a large black mantle which usually completely covers the shell, giving the animal a superficially slug-like appearance.

Species

Species within the genus Scutus include:[2]

Species brought into synonymy

References

  1. 1 2 Bouchet, P. (2012). Scutus Montfort, 1810. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=204176 on 2013-01-20
  2. Powell A. W. B., New Zealand Mollusca William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.