Amoria undulata

Amoria undulata, common name wavy volute, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Volutidae, the volutes.[1]

Amoria undulata
Apertural view of a shell of Amoria undulata angasii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Family: Volutidae
Genus: Amoria
Species:
A. undulata
Binomial name
Amoria undulata
(Lamarck, 1804)

Synonyms

  • Amoria (Amoria) undulata (Lamarck, 1804)
  • Amoria kingi Cox, 1871
  • Scaphella moslemica Hedley, 1912
  • Voluta angasii Sowerby II, 1864
  • Voluta australiae (Cox, 1872)
  • Voluta sclateri Cox, 1869
  • Voluta undulata Lamarck, 1804 (basionym)

Distribution

This marine species occurs off East Australia and Tasmania.[2]

Description

Shells of Amoria undulata

The length of the shell varies between 60 mm and 120 mm.[2] These shells are elongated, fusiform, smooth and solid and roundly shouldered, with long pointed conical spire. Suture shows a callous edge. The aperture is elongate, salmon to orange in colour, with smooth outer lip, thickened in adults. The base colour of the external surface of the shell is fawn or white-cream, with thin axial wavy brown lines. Foot shows similar coloured zigzag lines and stripes.[3][4][5]

Habitat

These sea snails live intertidally on sand and mud, at depths of 9 to 503 m. They live in deeper waters in their northern range. They emerge only at night to feed.[4][5][6]

A live individual of Amoria undulata

Biology

These gastropods are carnivore, mainly feeding on other sea snails. In the spring Amoria undulata migrates from deep water to shallow water sandbanks to breed. It lays egg masses similar to a hollow cylinder, with a diameter of 16–20 millimetres (0.63–0.79 in). The embryos hatch as well developed juveniles and crawl away.[4][5]

Bibliography

  • A. G. Hinton - Guide to Australian Shells
  • Bail P. & Limpus A. (2001) The genus Amoria. In: G.T. Poppe & K. Groh (eds) A conchological iconography. Hackenheim: Conchbooks. 50 pp., 93 pls
  • Harald Douté, M. A. Fontana Angioy - Volutes, The Doute collection
  • Wilson, B. (1993). Australian Marine Shells Part 2

References


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