Carinaria lamarcki

Taxobox
name = "Carinaria lamarcki"
status =


regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropod
ordo = Sorbeoconcha
familia = Carinariidae
genus = "Carinaria"
species = "C. lamarcki"
binomial = "Carinaria lamarcki"
binomial_authority = Peron and Lesueur, 1810
synonyms = "Carinaria challengeri" Bonnevie, 1920
"Carinaria oceanica" Vayssière, 1904
"Carinaria grimaldi" Vayssière, 1903
"Carinaria atlantica" Adams & Reeve, 1850
"Carinaria punctata" D'Orbigny, 1836
"Carinaria australis" Quoy & Gaimard, 1833
"Carinaria mediterranea" Blainville, 1825

"Carinaria lamarcki" is a species of minute floating sea snail, a pelagic marine gastropod mollusc in the family Carinariidae.

Distribution

Like most pelagic gastropods this species is found worldwide.

Habitat

This floating sea snail is found in warm seas. It can be found at depths of up to 650 m.

Anatomy

The animal's body is cylindrical and mainly transparent. Centrally on the animal's back is a small transparent shell, much smaller than the animal, which protects the viscera. There is some brown coloration near the shell.

The head has two black eyes, crowned by two supraorbital antennae, and small protuberances.

The tubular snout has a retractable device for capturing prey.

Life habits

The animal is a very active, carnivorous predator, and is able to swim fast when this is required. When threatened they usually swim downwards to escape, or remain motionless taking advantage of their transparency.

Because of its pelagic nature, this species is only rarely seen. Occasionally it is found washed up on beaches.

Length is up to 12.5 mm, width 6 mm, and height 6 mm.

References

* Powell A. W. B., "New Zealand Mollusca", William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1

External Links

* [http://tolweb.org/Carinaria_lamarcki/28751 Tree of Life: Carinaria lamarcki]
* [http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://marenostrum.org/vidamarina/animalia/invertebrados/moluscos/gasteropodos/prosobranquios/carinaria/index.htm&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=7&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2527%2527Carinaria%2Baustralis%2527%2527%26hl%3Den%26rls%3DGGLJ,GGLJ:2006-42,GGLJ:en-GB Marenostrum]