Buccinum leucostoma

Buccinum leucostoma, common name the yellow-mouth buccinum, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Buccinidae, the true whelks.[1]

Buccinum leucostoma
Two shells of Buccinum leucostoma
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Caenogastropoda
clade Hypsogastropoda
clade Neogastropoda
Superfamily:
Buccinoidea
Family:
Buccinidae
Subfamily:
Buccininae
Genus:
Buccinum
Species:
B. leucostoma
Binomial name
Buccinum leucostoma
Lischke, 1872

Description

The size of the shell of an adult varies between 55 mm and 120 mm. The snail's salivary glands contains the toxin tetramine (tetramethylammonium ion)[2] The male shell tends to be smaller and more slender than the female shell. The interior of the peristome in male specimens is characterised by a reddish orange colour, while in female specimens it is whitish or yellowish.[3]

Distribution

This species is found in the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Japan.

Buccinum leucostoma Lischke, 1872

References
  1. Buccinum leucostoma Lischke, 1872 . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 19 June 2011.
  2. Yoko Kawashima, Yuji Nagashima and Kazuo Shiomi, Determination of tetramine in marine gastropods by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry ; Science Direct Volume 44, Issue 2, August 2004, pp. 185–191, doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2004.05.020
  3. Tiba Ranzi, Sexual dimorphism in some species of Buccinidae; The malacological society of Japan, 11(2–3), 87–94, 1941-11-25, 1941
  • "Buccinum leucostoma". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 19 June 2011.


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