Asterophila japonica

Asterophila japonica is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Eulimidae. The species is one of three known species within the genus Asterophila, the other congeneric species being Asterophila perknasteri and Asterophila rathbunasteri.[1][2][3]

Asterophila japonica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Caenogastropoda
Superfamily:
Eulimoidea
Family:
Eulimidae
Genus:
Asterophila
Species:
A. japonica
Binomial name
Asterophila japonica
Randall & Heath, 1912

Distribution

This mollusk's anatomy and its reported distribution has changed over time. It was once thought to have lived in the Atlantic Ocean around New Jersey. But now new evidence has shown that this species lives in starfish around the Asiatic Coast of the Pacific Ocean.[4]

Anatomy

This species has now been proven to be very similar to those in the families Melanellidae-Entoconchidae, so it is not necessary to allocate it its own family as the taxonomist Thiele did in 1929.[4] However, there are some similarities and some differences. The larva is a typical veliger with smaller lobes like the Melanellidae-Entoconchidae. However this larva has a pericardium and a kidney.[4]

References
  1. Randall & Heath, 1912. Warén A. & Lewis L.M. (1994) Tho new species of eulimid gastropods endoparasitic in asteroids. The Veliger 37(4):325-335. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=536279 on 2013-02-11.
  2. "ADW Asterophila japonica". Animal Diversity Web. 24 December 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  3. Turgeon, D.; Quinn, J.F.; Bogan, A.E.; Coan, E.V.; Hochberg, F.G.; Lyons, W.G.; Mikkelsen, P.M.; Neves, R.J.; Roper, C.F.E.; Rosenberg, G.; Roth, B.; Scheltema, A.; Thompson, F.G.; Vecchione, M.; Williams, J.D. (1998). Common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the United States and Canada: mollusks. 2nd ed. American Fisheries Society Special Publication, 26. American Fisheries Society: Bethesda, MD (USA). ISBN 1-888569-01-8. IX, 526 + cd-rom pp. (look up in IMIS) page(s): 89
  4. "The endoparasitic mollusk Asterophila japonica Randall and Heath and its relation to the parasitic gastropods". Natural Sciences Repository. 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2012.


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