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.
Spiny Slippersnail
(Gmelin, 1791)
Bostrycapulus aculeatus
Class:
Gastropoda
Order:
Littorinimorpha
Family:
Calyptraeidae
Image Voucher:
ANSP 411038
Shell Information
Length (mm): 25-30
Dextral
Chirality:
This shell has a significant curve to one side. It has spiral rows of spines that are hollow or folded in shape. The inside of the shell has a shelf-like septum that spans a little less than half of the shells length. The outer shell is brown to gray in color while the inside is often brown with white blotches. The septum is typically white.
Description:
Ecological Information
Distribution:
Depth (m):
North Carolina to the Caribbean Sea
0 to 80 meters
Diet:
Suspension feeder
Habitat:
Marine; Hard substrates
Misc. Facts
This is also sometimes called the Thorny Slipper Shell.
Citations
MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Bostrycapulus aculeatus (Gmelin, 1791). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=419700 on 2021-06-23
Morris, P. A. (1987). A field guide to shells: Atlantic and Gulf coasts and the West Indies (3rd ed.). Houghton Mifflin.
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.
Rosenberg, G. 2009. Malacolog 4.1.1: A Database of Western Atlantic Marine Mollusca. [WWW database (version 4.1.1)] URL http://www.malacolog.org/