| Antalis vulgaris | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Scaphopoda |
| Order: | Dentaliida |
| Family: | Dentaliidae |
| Genus: | Antalis |
| Species: | A. vulgaris |
| Binomial name | |
| Antalis vulgaris (da Costa, 1778) | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Dentalium vulgare (da Costa, 1778) | |
Antalis vulgaris, commonly known as the common tusk shell, is a species of scaphopods mainly encountered on sandy bottoms from 5 to 1000 meters depth.
Description
Antalis vulgaris is a small mollusc of 3 to 6 cm length with a characteristic elephant tusk shape. Its shell is opaque white and displays closely spaced longitudinal striations on the posterior portion. The anterior aperture (thinnest end) is circular and is occluded by a septum with a central pipe bearing a circular orifice.
Distribution
The common tusk shell is found from south-western United Kingdom to western Mediterranean.
Diet
The species stands vertically in soft grounds and search the sand with specific adhesive tentacles (captacula) for small benthic species such as foraminifera.
Reproduction
Separated sexes. The fecundation is external and gives rise to planktonic larvae called trochophore.
Similar species
- Antalis entalis (Linnaeus, 1758) is smaller (4cm), has a pyriform-shaped anterior orifice and has no longitudinal striations.
- Fustiaria rubescens (Deshayes, 1825) is smaller (3.5cm) and has a pink coloration.
- Ditrupa arietina (O. F. Müller, 1776) is an annelid belonging to the polychaete class and living in a calcified conical tube.
References
- "Antalis vulgaris, tusk shell". www.sealifebase.ca. Retrieved 2019-02-25.
- Hayward, P. J.; Ryland, J. S. (2017). Handbook of the Marine fauna in North-West Europe. Oxford University Press (GBP). ISBN 9780199549443. OCLC 962330493.
- ^ "Antalis vulgaris | DORIS". doris.ffessm.fr. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
- Audibert, Cédric; Delemarre, Jean-Louis (2009). Guide des coquillages de France Atlantique et Manche. Paris: Belin. ISBN 9782701146713. OCLC 690331649.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Antalis vulgaris | |
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