Oxymeris maculata
| Oxymeris maculata | |
|---|---|
| |
| Live Oxymeris maculata | |
| File:VisTachetéII.png | |
| Shells of Oxymeris maculata | |
| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Neogastropoda |
| Family: | Terebridae |
| Genus: | Oxymeris |
| Species: | O. maculata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Oxymeris maculata | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Oxymeris maculata, also called marlinspike auger, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Terebridae, the auger snails. It can be found in tropical climates at depths of 0 to 210 meters.[2]
Description
[edit | edit source]Oxymeris maculata has a cream colored shell with dark, rectangular spots that span the spiral.[3] It is the largest Terebrid species, with an average shell height of 16 centimeters[2] and reaching up to 27.4 centimeters.[4] This species feeds on smaller gastropods and echinoderms, including the Crown of Thorns sea star[5] and polychaete worms.[3] It is one of the many species within the Terebridae family to lose its venom ducts.[6]
Distribution and habitat
[edit | edit source]Oxymeris maculata can be found in the tropical Indo-Pacific, such as off Aldabra, Chagos, Madagascar, the Mascarene Basin, Mauritius and Tanzania. This species can also be found in the Pacific Ocean off Mexico, Papua New Guinea,[7] and Hawaii. In Hawaii it can be found off the beaches in places such as Waimānalo, Kahe Point, and Honokōhau.[8]
Human use
[edit | edit source]Oxymeris maculata is sometimes collected to eat the snail inside the shell.[2] It has also been used as a boring tool in South Pacific cultures.[2] Its common name, marlinspike, comes from its shape that is similar to the nautical tool used for splicing ropes.[9]
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Oxymeris maculata (Linnaeus, 1758). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 30 March 2011.
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- Bratcher T. & Cernohorsky W.O. (1987). Living terebras of the world. A monograph of the recent Terebridae of the world. American Malacologists, Melbourne, Florida & Burlington, Massachusetts. 240pp.
- Severns, M. (2011). Shells of the Hawaiian Islands - The Sea Shells. Conchbooks, Hackenheim. 564 pp
External links
[edit | edit source]- Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Editio decima, reformata [10th revised edition, vol. 1: 824 pp. Laurentius Salvius: Holmiae]
- Fedosov, A. E.; Malcolm, G.; Terryn, Y.; Gorson, J.; Modica, M. V.; Holford, M.; Puillandre, N. (2020). Phylogenetic classification of the family Terebridae (Neogastropoda: Conoidea). Journal of Molluscan Studies. 85(4): 359-388
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