STROMBIDAE
Family STROMBIDAE
Family: STROMBIDAE
STROMBIDAE
Contents
The family Strombidae, commonly known as the true conchs, is a taxonomic family of medium-sized to very large sea snails. Lambis truncata is one of the largest strombs.
Lambis truncata is one of the largest strombs.
This family comprises about 100 species world wide, most of them living in shallow waters, on sandy, muddy or rubble bottoms on marine grass flats. Some species are very variable in color pattern, specially species of Canarium and Terestrombus, and it is interesting to make series of these color variations [1].
Canarium spp.
Terestrombus sp.
Strombidae gastropods live mainly in tropical and subtropical waters. Most species of Strombidae gastropods are distributed in the Indo-West Pacific Ocean. Several species of Strombidae are used as food or decoration.
The Spider Conch (Lambis lambis)
A live scorpion conch (Lambis scorpius) in Mayotte. One can see the eyes as well as the scythe-shaped operculum.
Several species of Strombidae are used as food
Species of the genus Lambis in the family Strombidae are commonly known as spider shells and are among the most popular of seashells for collections.
Genus Lambis are commonly known as spider shells and are among the most popular of seashells for collections.
Strombids have long eye stalks. The shell of a Strombid has a long and narrow aperture and a siphonal canal. The length of the digits on the outer lip may vary. Occasionally extra digits are formed, and when the animal has been injured when juvenile, peculiar malformations in the digitations (number and form) of the outer lip may be the result [1].
Taxon Details
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Superfamily: Stromboidea
Family: STROMBIDAE
References:
Image references are already available below each image
[1] Poppe, G.T. (ed.) (2008). Philippine Marine Mollusks. Vol. 1, (Gastropoda-part 1). Conch Bookds. Hackenheim, Germany.
Author:
Dr. Nabavi, Seyyed Mohammad Bagher
Professor of marine biology
See STROMBIDAE samples in Museum Main Hall
See general and scientific articles related to seashells in publications page
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