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.
Milk Conch
(Gmelin, 1791)
Macrostrombus costatus
Class:
Gastropoda
Order:
Littorinimorpha
Family:
Strombidae
Image Voucher:
ANSP 387258
Shell Information
Length (mm): 100-231
Dextral
Chirality:
A large heavy shell with a pronounced spire. Adults will develop an expanded body whorl with a developed lip. The body whorl of adults will also have a row of knobs. This shell is typically yellow and white with an all white underside.
Description:
Ecological Information
Distribution:
Depth (m):
North Carolina to Brazil
2 to 55 meters
Diet:
Herbivore
Habitat:
Marine; Seagrass and soft substrates
Misc. Facts
Also sometimes called the Ribbed Stromb,
Citations
MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Macrostrombus costatus (Gmelin, 1791). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1429775 on 2021-06-23
Rosenberg, G., F. Moretzsohn, and E. F. Garc�a. 29. Gastropoda (Mollusca) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 579�699 in Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico�Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, Texas.
Morris, P. A. (1987). A field guide to shells: Atlantic and Gulf coasts and the West Indies (3rd ed.). Houghton Mifflin.