Malacology
Malacology is the study of mollusks. This includes animals like octopus, snails, slugs, and clams. It is the second largest phylum of animals, making them one of the most successful groups on the planet. There are over 80,000 described species of mollusks with many more left to be discovered. Mullusca is composed of 8 recognized classes including Cephalopoda, Gastropoda, Polyplacophora, Scaphapoda, Monoplacophorans, the Aplacophorans, Caudofoveata and Solenogastres, and Bivalvia.
Elongated Violet Snail
d'Orbigny, 1841
Janthina umbilicata
Class:
Order:
Family:
Gastropoda
[unassigned] Caenogastropoda
Epitoniidae
Shell Information
Diameter (mm): 6-19
Dextral
Chirality:
This shell is very thin making it fragile.
Description:
Ecological Information
Distribution:
Depth (m):
Florida to Yucatan
Diet:
Carnivore; They eat pelagic hydrozoans.
Habitat:
Marine; Pelagic (on the ocean surface)
Misc. Facts
Citations
MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Janthina umbilicata d'Orbigny, 1841. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=225271 on 2021-06-23