- Amphibola crenata
Taxobox
name = "Amphibola crenata"
(mud-flat snail)
image_caption =
status =
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Mollusc a
classis =Gastropod a
ordo =Pulmonata
familia =Amphibolidae
familia_authority =J. E. Gray , 1840
genus = "Amphibola"
genus_authority = Schumacher, 1817
species = "A. crenata"
binomial = "Amphibola crenata"
binomial_authority = (Gmelin, 1791)"Amphibola crenata" ("titiko" in the
Māori language or mud-flat snail in English) is aspecies of air breathingsnail with an operculum, a terrestrialpulmonate gastropod mollusc . It is the only member of its genus, "Amphibola".This is not a true land snail, but it is also not a true sea snail. Unlike almost all other snails that have opercula, this species breathes air. It is common in
New Zealand .Distribution
This species is endemic to New Zealand.
Habitat
This snail is found on tidal mudflats, often in great numbers.
hell description
The thick shell of this species is about 20 mm in size and has a coarsely wrinkled surface. The whorls are shouldered with a spiral ridge, and there is a umbilicus, also bounded by a ridge. The colour is yellowish-brown externally and purplish-brown within the aperture, but the
peristome is whitish.clearLife habits
"Amphibola crenata" is interesting as it seems to represent a transitional state between marine and terrestrial gastropods. The mantle is employed as a lung, and therefore immersion of the animal in sea water is of secondary importance, and occurs for not more than an hour at each high tide.
This is one of very few air-breathing marine snails with an operculum and a
veliger larva .Feeding
This snail is a detritus or deposit feeder. It extracts
bacteria ,diatom s and decomposing matter from the surface sand. It egests the sand and a slimy secretion that is a rich source of food for bacteria.Human use
In the past this species was an important food for the
Māori .References
* Powell A W B, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
* [http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/S/SnailMud/SnailMud/en 1966 Te Ara encyclopedia entry] and
* [http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/S/SnailMud/SnailMud/ENZ-Resources/Standard/1/en image]
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