Palmadusta ziczac

Palmadusta ziczac is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.[1]

Palmadusta ziczac
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Caenogastropoda
clade Hypsogastropoda
clade Littorinimorpha
Superfamily:
Cypraeoidea
Family:
Cypraeidae
Genus:
Palmadusta
Species:
P. ziczac
Binomial name
Palmadusta ziczac
Synonyms

Subspecies and formae

Description

These quite common small shells reach on average 15–20 millimetres (0.59–0.79 in) of length, with a maximum size of 26 millimetres (1.0 in) and a minimum size of 8 millimetres (0.31 in). The basic color of these pyriform shells is light beige or light tan, crossed by three transversal white bands with a zigzag pattern. The base of the shell is yellow or orange-brown with some brown small spots, extended along both sides. The aperture is orange with several short teeth. In the living cowries the mantle is orange-red, with white papillae.

A shell of Palmadusta ziczac, dorsal view, anterior end towards the right
Palmadusta ziczac, lateral view, anterior end towards the left
Palmadusta ziczac, apertural view, anterior end towards the left

Distribution
Distribution map of Palmadusta ziczac

This species is distributed in the Red Sea and in the Indian Ocean along Aldabra, Chagos, the Comores, the East Coast of South Africa, Kenya, Madagascar, the Mascarene Basin, Mauritius, Mozambique, Réunion, the Seychelles, Somalia, and Tanzania and in the western Pacific Ocean along Melanesia, Bali, Philippines, Australia and Polynesia, except Hawaii.

Habitat

These cowries live in intertidal waters up to 5–20 metres (16–66 ft) of depth, in sandy lagoons and on coral reef, usually hiding under coral and rocks.

References
  1. Palmadusta ziczac (Linnaeus). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species.
  2. "Palmadusta ziczac misella". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  3. "Palmadusta ziczac ziczac signata". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  4. Moretzsohn, F. (2012). Palmadusta ziczac signata. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=597565 on 2012-05-10
  5. Gastropods.com : Palmadusta ziczac ziczac undata; accessed : 24 October 2010
  6. Moretzsohn, F. (2012). Palmadusta ziczac f. undata. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=597567 on 2012-05-10
  7. "Palmadusta ziczac vittata". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  • Verdcourt, B. (1954). The cowries of the East African Coast (Kenya, Tanganyika, Zanzibar and Pemba). Journal of the East Africa Natural History Society 22(4) 96: 129-144, 17 pls
  • Burgess, C.M. (1970). The Living Cowries. AS Barnes and Co, Ltd. Cranbury, New Jersey
  • Steyn, D.G. & Lussi, M. (1998) Marine Shells of South Africa. An Illustrated Collector's Guide to Beached Shells. Ekogilde Publishers, Hartebeespoort, South Africa, ii + 264 pp. page(s): 66
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