Aspa marginata

Aspa marginata is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Bursidae, the frog shells.[1][2]

Aspa marginata
Temporal range: Pliocene - Recent
↓
Aspa marginata (Gmelin, 1791)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Caenogastropoda
clade Hypsogastropoda
clade Littorinimorpha
Superfamily:
Tonnoidea
Family:
Bursidae
Genus:
Aspa
Species:
A. marginata
Binomial name
Aspa marginata
(Gmelin, 1791)
Synonyms[1]
  • Buccinum marginatum Gmelin, 1791
  • Bufonaria marginata (Gmelin, 1791)
  • Bursa marginata (Gmelin, 1791)
  • Eione inflata Risso, 1826
  • † Ranella brocchii Bronn, 1828
  • † Ranella laevigata Lamarck, 1822

Description

Shells of Aspa marginata can reach a size of 20–40 millimetres (0.79–1.57 in).[3] These shells are quite thick, beige in color, with a smooth surface, a deep siphonal canal and a short spire.

Distribution

This marine species occurs in Western Africa, Senegal and Canary Islands.[3][2]

Fossil shell of Aspa marginata from the Pliocene of Italy

Fossil records

This genus is known in the fossil records from the Pliocene to the Quaternary (age range: from 3.6 to 0.781 million years ago).[4]

Cultural aspects

The fossilized shells have been valued by humans and Neanderthals.[5]

Bibliography
  • Bernard, P.A. (Ed.) (1984). Coquillages du Gabon [Shells of Gabon]. Pierre A. Bernard: Libreville, Gabon. 140, 75 plates
  • Gofas, S.; Afonso, J.P.; Brandào, M. (Ed.). (S.a.). Conchas e Moluscos de Angola = Coquillages et Mollusques d'Angola. [Shells and molluscs of Angola]. Universidade Agostinho / Elf Aquitaine Angola: Angola. 140 pp.
  • Gofas, S.; Le Renard, J.; Bouchet, P. (2001). Mollusca, in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels, 50: pp. 180–213
  • Rolán E., 2005. Malacological Fauna From The Cape Verde Archipelago. Part 1, Polyplacophora and Gastropoda.

References
  1. Aspa marginata (Gmelin, 1791). WoRMS (2010). Aspa marginata (Gmelin, 1791). In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=476434 .
  2. GBIF
  3. "Aspa marginata". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  4. Fossilworks
  5. Peresani, Marco, et al.: An ochered fossil marine shell from the Mousterian of Fumane Cave, Italy. PLoS ONE 8.7 (2013): e68572.
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