Acanthina, common name the unicorn snails, is a genus of small predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.[1]
Description
The shell is ovate. The body whorl is large. The spire is rather elevated. The aperture is semilunar. The inner lip is wide and flattened. The outer lip is crenated, with a prominent tooth at the fore part. [2]
Habitat
The species of Acanthina are most numerous on the South American coasts of the Pacific Ocean. These snails live in the intertidal zone.
Species
Species within the genus Acanthina:
- † Acanthina katzi Fleming, 1972
- Acanthina monodon (Pallas, 1774)
- † Acanthina obesa DeVries, 2003
- † Acanthina rugosa DeVries, 2003
- † Acanthina triangularis DeVries, 2003
- Acanthina unicornis (Bruguière, 1789)
- Species brought into synonymy
- Acanthina paucilirata now Acanthinucella paucilirata
- Acanthina punctulata now Acanthinucella punctulata
- Acanthina lugubris now Mexacanthina lugubris
- Acanthina spirata now Acanthinucella spirata
- Acanthina angelica Oldroyd, 1918 : synonym of Mexacanthina angelica (Oldroyd, 1918)
- Acanthina costata Fischer, 1807 : synonym of Acanthina monodon (Pallas, 1774)
- Acanthina imbricata Fischer, 1807 : synonym of Acanthina monodon (Pallas, 1774)
- Acanthina laevigata Fischer, 1807 : synonym of Acanthina monodon (Pallas, 1774)
- Acanthina tyrianthina Berry, 1957 : synonym of Mexacanthina lugubris (Sowerby, 1821)
References
- ^ a b Houart, R. (2010). Acanthina Fischer von Waldheim, 1807. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=377980 on 2010-12-08
- ^ Adams, H. & Adams, A. (1853-1858). The genera of Recent Mollusca; arranged according to their organization. London, van Voorst. Vol. 1: xl + 484 pp.; vol. 2: 661 pp.; vol. 3: 138 pls
- McLean, James H., 1978 ‘’Marine Shells of Southern California’’, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Museum, Science Series 24, Revised Edition: 1-104
External links
- Fischer von Waldheim, G. (1807). Museum Demidoff, ou, Catalogue systématique et raisonné des curiosités de la nature et de l'art: données à l'Université Impériale de Moscou par son excellence Monsieur Paul de Demidoff. Tome III. Végétaux et Animaux. Moscow: Imprimerie de Université Impériale de Moscou. 300 pp, 6 pls
- Montfort P. (Denys de). (1808-1810). Conchyliologie systématique et classification méthodique des coquilles. Paris: Schoell. Vol. 1: pp. lxxxvii + 409
- Schumacher, C. F. (1817). Essai d'un nouveau système des habitations des vers testacés. Schultz, Copenghagen. iv + 288 pp., 22 pls.
- DeVries, T. J. (2003). Acanthina Fischer von Waldheim, 1807 (Gastropoda: Muricidae), an ocenebrine genus endemic to South America. The Veliger. 46 (4): 332-350.
- Strong, A. M. (1925). Acanthina. The Nautilus. 38(3): 104