Retusa truncatula

Retusa truncatula is a species of very small head-shield sea snail or barrel-bubble snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Retusidae[1]

Retusa truncatula
Retusa truncatula
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Euopisthobranchia
clade Cephalaspidea
Superfamily:
Philinoidea
Family:
Retusidae
Genus:
Retusa
Species:
R. truncatula
Binomial name
Retusa truncatula
(Bruguière, 1792)
Synonyms[1]

Bulla pellucida Brown, 1827

  • Bulla retusa Maton & Rackett, 1807
  • Bulla semisulcata Philippi, 1836
  • Bulla truncata Adams J., 1800
  • Bulla truncatula Bruguière, 1792 (original combination)
  • Coleophysis effusa Monterosato, 1890 (dubious synonym)
  • Cylichna truncatella Locard, 1886
  • Retusa (Coleophysis) piriformis Nordsieck, 1972
  • Retusa carinensis de Gregorio, 1889
  • Retusa dilatata Pallary, 1904 (dubious synonym)
  • Retusa dilatata var. minor Pallary, 1904 (dubious synonym)
  • Retusa piriformis Nordsieck, 1972
  • Retusa semisulcata (Philippi, 1836)
  • Utriculus truncatulus (Bruguière, 1792)
  • Utriculus truncatulus var. pellucida (Brown, 1827)
  • Volvaria pellucida Brown, 1827

The subspecies Retusa truncatula var. mammilata: is a synonym of Retusa mammillata (Philippi, 1836)

Description

The shell is minute with a flattened spire and longitudinal striations. The colour of the living animal is white. The adult length is usually less than 4 mm.[2]

Distribution

This species occurs in South Africa, from False Bay to Durban in shallow estuaries. It is also known from northern Europe, the Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands.[2]

Natural history

This small sea snail lives from the intertidal zone to just below the low water mark. It burrows in the mud or sand of tidal marshes, and feeds on foraminiferans.[2]

References
  1. Gofas, S. (2013). Retusa truncatula (Bruguière, 1792). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=141138 on 2014-03-20
  2. Gosliner, T.M. 1987. Nudibranchs of Southern Africa ISBN 0-930118-13-8
  • 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.
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