''Vexillum antonellii'' is a
species of small
sea snail
Sea snail is a common name for slow-moving marine gastropod molluscs, usually with visible external shells, such as whelk or abalone. They share the taxonomic class Gastropoda with slugs, which are distinguished from snails primarily by the ...
, marine
gastropod
The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda ().
This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, from freshwater, and from land. T ...
mollusk in the
family Costellariidae
Costellariidae sometimes called the "ribbed miters" is a taxonomic family of minute to medium-sized predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks.
This family of snails is also sometimes referred to as ''Vexillum'' miters. The main family ...
, the ribbed miters.
which is a group of snails that are commonly known as "tulip snails". Vexillum antonellii is found in the Indo-Pacific region, from the Red Sea to the Solomon Islands. It typically inhabits coral reefs and other hard-bottom substrates at depths of 10-60 meters.
Vexillum antonellii is a medium-sized
snail, with
shells that can reach up to 50 millimeters in length. The shell is slender and fusiform, with a long, narrow neck and a flared
aperture. The shell is typically white or cream in color, with brown or reddish-brown markings. The markings can be in the form of spots, stripes, or zigzags.
Vexillum antonellii is a
carnivorous
A carnivore , or meat-eater (Latin, ''caro'', genitive ''carnis'', meaning meat or "flesh" and ''vorare'' meaning "to devour"), is an animal or plant whose food and energy requirements derive from animal tissues (mainly muscle, fat and other sof ...
snail. It preys on a variety of small organisms, including worms, crustaceans, and other mollusks. It uses its proboscis, which is a long, muscular tube, to capture and inject venom into its prey. Once the prey is paralyzed, Vexillum antonellii uses its radula, which is a tongue-like organ covered in sharp teeth, to scrape the prey's flesh off of its shell.
Vexillum antonellii is not a commercially important species. However, it is a popular shell among collectors. It is also sometimes used in traditional medicine.
Description
* Shell: The shell of Vexillum antonellii is slender and fusiform, with a long, narrow neck and a flared aperture. The shell can be white or cream in color, with brown or reddish-brown markings. The markings can be in the form of spots, stripes, or zigzags. The shell surface is often covered in fine spiral ridges.
* Aperture: The aperture of Vexillum antonellii is large and flared. The outer lip of the aperture is thickened and crenulated. The inner lip of the aperture is smooth and white.
* Foot: The foot of Vexillum antonellii is large and muscular. It is used for locomotion and for burrowing into the substrate.
*
Proboscis: The
proboscis of Vexillum antonellii is long and muscular. It is used for capturing prey and injecting venom.
* Radula: The radula of Vexillum antonellii is a tongue-like organ covered in sharp teeth. It is used for scraping flesh from prey.
Distribution
Here are some specific countries where Vexillum antonellii has been found:
* Indonesia
* Malaysia
* Philippines
* Thailand
* Vietnam
*
India
* Sri Lanka
* Maldives
* Seychelles
* Tanzania
* Madagascar
* Mauritius
* Solomon Islands
It is possible that Vexillum antonellii is also found in other countries in the Indo-Pacific region, but more research is needed to confirm this.
References
* Turner H. 2001. ''Katalog der Familie Costellariidae'' Macdonald, 1860. Conchbooks. 1–100 page(s): 17
External links
Dohrn, H. (1860). Description of new species of Mitra from the collection of Hugh Cuming, Esq. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 28: 366-368 Cernohorsky, Walter Oliver. The Mitridae of Fiji; The veliger vol. 8 (1965)
antonellii
Gastropods described in 1860
{{Costellariidae-stub