Concholepas

Concholepas
Two live individuals of Concholepas concholepas, the one on the left has been turned over to show the under surface of the large muscular foot
Scientific classificationEdit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Muricoidea
Family: Muricidae
Subfamily: Rapaninae
Genus: ConcholepasLamarck, 1801
Type species
Concholepas peruvianaLamarck, 1801
Synonyms[1]
  • ConchopatellaHerrmannsen, 1847
  • ConchulusRafinesque, 1815

Concholepas is a genus of medium-sized to large predatorysea snails, marinegastropodmollusks in the familyMuricidae, the rock shells.[1]

Description

The shell is ovate. The body whorl is large and expanded. The spire is very short and obliquely inclined towards the left side. The aperture is very wide, slightly channelled anteriorly. The inner lip is flattened. The outer lip shows two small teeth in front.

The only Recent species known of this genus is from Peru. It lives upon the rocks and stones along the shore, and, considering the size of the foot, is, according to D'Orbigny, very inactive. The operculum is very large and thin, and is placed transversely across the hind part of the foot.[2]

Species

Species within the genus Concholepas include:

Synonyms
  • Concholepas (Coralliobia)H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 : synonym of CoralliobiaH. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 accepted as Coralliophila H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853
  • Concholepas (Coralliobia) fimbriataA. Adams, 1853: synonym of Coralliophila fimbriata(A. Adams, 1853)
  • Concholepas cuvieri Deshayes, 1853: synonym of Concholepas concholepas(Bruguière, 1789)
  • Concholepas decipiensMabille, 1886: synonym of Concholepas concholepas(Bruguière, 1789)
  • Concholepas densestriatusMabille, 1886: synonym of Concholepas concholepas(Bruguière, 1789)
  • Concholepas granosusMabille, 1886: synonym of Concholepas concholepas(Bruguière, 1789)
  • Concholepas imbricatusValenciennes, 1832: synonym of Concholepas concholepas(Bruguière, 1789)
  • Concholepas laevigatusValenciennes, 1832: synonym of Concholepas concholepas(Bruguière, 1789)
  • Concholepas minorMabille, 1886: synonym of Concholepas concholepas(Bruguière, 1789)
  • Concholepas oblongusReeve, 1863: synonym of Concholepas concholepas(Bruguière, 1789)
  • Concholepas patagonicusMabille, 1886: synonym of Concholepas concholepas(Bruguière, 1789)
  • Concholepas peruviana Lamarck, 1801: synonym of Concholepas concholepas(Bruguière, 1789)
  • Concholepas rhombicusMabille, 1886: synonym of Concholepas concholepas(Bruguière, 1789)
  • Concholepas similisMabille, 1886: synonym of Concholepas concholepas(Bruguière, 1789)
  • Concholepas splendensMabille, 1886: synonym of Concholepas concholepas(Bruguière, 1789)
  • Concholepas verucundusMabille, 1886: synonym of Concholepas concholepas(Bruguière, 1789)

Life habits

These animals are predatory, like almost all the muricids.

References

  • Claremont M., Vermeij G.J., Williams S.T. & Reid D.G. (2013) Global phylogeny and new classification of the Rapaninae (Gastropoda: Muricidae), dominant molluscan predators on tropical rocky seashores. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 66: 91–102