Cypraeovula iutsui is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries. [1]
| Cypraeovula iutsui | |
|---|---|
| |
| Shell of Cypraeovula iutsui | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Littorinimorpha |
| Family: | Cypraeidae |
| Genus: | Cypraeovula |
| Species: | C. iutsui
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cypraeovula iutsui (Shikama, 1974)
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Distribution
editThis species occurs from the mouth of the Olifants River in the Western Cape, to Port Alfred, Eastern Cape, South Africa.[2]
Description
editThe length of an adult shell varies between 22 mm and 41 mm.
Thin transparent beige mantle has beige or black conical papillae. The siphon is the same colour as mantle. The cephalic tentacles are slender, elongate and off-white. The short translucent white foot is wide at the front and rounded at the rear. T
The shell is globular, often nearly spherical, up to 41mm in length. Atlantic specimens vary in colour from pale plum to opaque white, with little dorsal marking. Indian Ocean specimens are more colourful, and may have red to rut- brown dorsal markings. The labrum is broad with a dull surface, and has 17 to 25 fine denticles on the inner edge, which usually extend as fine ridges for a few millimetres. The columella is deeply convoluted and poorly developed. The shell aperture is narrow and of even width along its length.[2]
The shell is globular, often nearly spherical, with the spire completely enveloped by the final adult whorl. The aperture is elongated, featuring a thickened, white, denticulate margin. The outer lip (labrum) is equipped with 17–25 prominent teeth. Juvenile specimens, known as the 'bulla' stage, are common and retain vestiges of the spire as well as a narrowed siphonal region.
Specimens from the west coast range in color from opaque white to pale plum, with few dorsal markings. In contrast, specimens from the Agulhas Bank are more densely patterned, featuring reddish-brown spots and blotches across the dorsum. [3]
Habitat
editThis species is endemic to South Africa. Specimens have been collected from 150 to 250m depth on the Agulhas Bank, and from below 50m on the Atlantic coast.[2]
Conservation status
editNo data is available on the conservation status of this species.
References
edit- ^ Cypraeovula iutsui (Shikama, 1974). 17 October 2024. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species.
- ^ a b c Liltved, William Rune. Cowries and their relatives of southern Africa: A study of the southern African Cypraeacean and Velutinacean gastropod fauna, Gordon Verhoef, Seacomber Publications, 2000. ISBN 0908 42089 7
- ^ Herbert, D.G., Jones, G.J. & Atkinson, L.J. (2018). Phylum Mollusca. In: Atkinson, L.J. and Sink, K.J. (eds) Field Guide to the Offshore Marine Invertebrates of South Africa. Pretoria: Malachite Marketing and Media. p. 289. doi:10.15493/SAEON.PUB.10000001. ISBN 978-1-86868-098-6. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
This article incorporates text from this source, which is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
