Buccinum thermophilum

Buccinum thermophilum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Family: Buccinidae
Genus: Buccinum
Species:
B. thermophilum
Binomial name
Buccinum thermophilum
Harasewych & Kantor, 2002[1]

Buccinum thermophilum is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Buccinidae, the true whelks.[2]

Description

The common name for B. thermophilum is the endeavor vent whelk. Whelks are usually moderate to large in size, with smooth or sculptured whorls which often have a distinct shoulder. The aperture is large and a siphonal canal and horny operculum are present. They have two eyes at the base of tentacles, and a well-developed sense of smell. They are usually considered as predatory or scavengers. Their shell length is typically 3.5 cm. Whelks lay eggs in attached masses of lens-shaped capsules, each of which contains 200–450 eggs. Their egg size is about 275 μm, and the capsule diameter is about 5–6 mm. Buccinid whelks usually hatch from eggs as juveniles, so have limited dispersal capability. Deep-sea buccinids can survive up to a year without food.[3]

Distribution

This marine species occurs off the Juan de Fuca Ridge, Northeast Pacific

References

  1. ^ Harasewych & Kantor. 2002. Journal of Molluscan Studies 68 (1): 39–44. World Register of Marine Species.
  2. ^ Buccinum thermophilum Harasewych & Kantor, 2002. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species.
  3. ^ "Buccinum thermophilum". Archived from the original on 9 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.

Further reading