Vasum rhinoceros

Vasum rhinoceros
Vasum rhinoceros in a tide pool in Mombasa, Kenya, Africa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Family: Turbinellidae
Subfamily: Vasinae
Genus: Vasum
Species:
V. rhinoceros
Binomial name
Vasum rhinoceros
(Gmelin, 1791)
Synonyms[1]

Voluta rhinoceros Gmelin, 1791 ·

Vasum rhinoceros, common name the rhinoceros vase snail or rhinoceros vase shell, is a species of large predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk within the family Turbinellidae.[1][2]

Subspecies
  • Vasum rhinoceros attolinoi T. Cossignani, 2017
  • Vasum rhinoceros rhinoceros (Gmelin, 1791)
Vasum rhinoceros shell

Description

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The length of the shell: up to 90 mm, similar to Vasum turbinellus, in shape, but more rosy pink with light brown patches. The parietal wall is yellow-brown.The columella is wide, orange pink, with only three folds and large nodules on the shoulder. (Richmond, 1997).

Distribution

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This species occurs in the Western Indian Ocean off Tanzania and Kenya.

Habitat

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Shallow, rocky, sandy substrata.

References

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  1. ^ a b Rosenberg, G. (2011). Vasum rhinoceros (Gmelin, 1791). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=211102 on 2011-12-14
  2. ^ "Vasum rhinoceros (Gmelin, 1791)".
  • Spry, J.F. (1961). The sea shells of Dar es Salaam: Gastropods. Tanganyika Notes and Records 56
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