Modulus modulus

Modulus modulus
File:Modulus modulus (Atlantic modulus snail) (San Salvador Island, Bahamas) 2 (16190200492).jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Family:	Modulidae
Genus:	Modulus
Species:	M. modulus
Binomial name
Modulus modulus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
Ethalia tasmanica Tenison Woods, 1877 (junior synonym) Modulus canaliculatus Mörch, 1876 Modulus convexior Mörch, 1876 Modulus krebsii Mörch, 1876 Modulus lenticularis (Lamarck, 1822) junior subjective synonym Modulus perlatus (Gmelin, 1791) Modulus pisum Mörch, 1876 Modulus unidens (A. d'Orbigny, 1842) junior subjective synonym Trochus filosus Helbling, 1779 junior subjective synonym Trochus lenticularis Chemnitz, 1781 unavailable name Trochus modulus Linnaeus, 1758 (original combination) Trochus perlatus Gmelin, 1791 Trochus unidens A. d'Orbigny, 1842 junior subjective synonym

Modulus modulus, commonly known as the buttonsnail, is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Modulidae.

Distribution

This species occurs in the Caribbean Sea and includes both the east and west coast of Florida.

Description

The maximum recorded shell length is 16.5 mm. The overall shape of the shell is button-like, with a gray or brown streaked, ridge-sculptured body whorl and a low spire.

Habitat

The minimum recorded depth is 0 m. The maximum recorded depth is 105 m.

Found in shell grit and coral sand, among sea grass beds -at 2 to 3 feet depth.

References

• Holzer, K. K.; Rueda, J. L.; McGlathery, K. J. (2011). Differences in the feeding ecology of two seagrass-associated snails. Estuaries and Coasts, 10 pp
• Rosenberg, G.; Moretzsohn, F.; García, E. F. (2009). Gastropoda (Mollusca) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 579–699 in: Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas.
• Florida's Living Beaches by Blair and Dawn Witherington, 2010, Pineapple Press, Inc.