Cymatium parthenopeum

Taxobox
name = "Cymatium parthenopeum"


image_width = 240px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
subclassis = Orthogastropoda
superordo = Caenogastropoda
ordo = Sorbeoconcha
subordo = Hypsogastropoda
superfamilia = Tonnoidea
familia = Ranellidae
subfamilia = Ranellinae
genus = "Cymatium"
species = "C. parthenopeum"
binomial = "Cymatium parthenopeum"
binomial_authority = (Salis, 1793)

"Cymatium parthenopeum", or the hairy trumpet, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Ranellidae, the tritons.

Distribution

This species is very widespread globally, being found in the Mediterranean, the South Atlantic, the Caribbean Sea, the western Atlantic and Oceania, including Australia and northern New Zealand.

Habitat

This triton lives from low tide level down to depths of 45 m in warm and tropical waters.

hell description

The shell of this species is large and solid, with a massive labial varix that is rendered nodular by the broad overriding spiral cords. The inside of the outer lip is strongly denticulate, and the inner lip is horizontally plicate. The operculum is ovate with a terminal nucleus. The periostracum has long fringes, giving rise to the common name.

The coloration of the shell is pale orange-brown, with the interspaces of the nodular varices, the inner lip plicae, and the labial denticles, dark brown.

The shell height is up to 100 mm, and the width is up to 59 mm.

Description of the live animal

This triton has a brightly coloured mantle with bluish ocellate spots on a purplish-grey ground.

References

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