Zonaria pyrum, common name the pear cowry, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.[1]
| Zonaria pyrum | |
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| A shell of Zonaria pyrum | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Littorinimorpha |
| Family: | Cypraeidae |
| Genus: | Zonaria |
| Species: | Z. pyrum
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| Binomial name | |
| Zonaria pyrum (Gmelin, 1791)
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| Synonyms | |
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- Subspecies
- Zonaria pyrum insularum F. A. Schilder, 1928
- Zonaria pyrum pyrum (Gmelin, 1791)
Description
editThe shells of these quite common cowries reach on average 32–38 millimetres (1.3–1.5 in) of length, with a minimum size of 17 millimetres (0.67 in) and a maximum size of 52 millimetres (2.0 in).
Description
editThey are very variable in pattern and colour. The surface is smooth and shiny, their basic color is usually orange-brown, with many brown spots and two or three clear trasversal bands. The base, the margins and the teeth are orange or pinkish. In the living cowries mantle and foot are quite developed, with external antennae. The mantle is orange-reddish, with yellow papillae. The lateral flaps may hide completely the shell surface and may be quickly retracted into the shell opening.
Distribution
editThis species occurs in the Mediterranean Sea to southwest Africa, off Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Italy, Lampedusa Island, Sicily, Malta, Greece, Turkey, Senegal, Gabon and Angola.
Habitat
editThese cowries live in tropical and subtropical waters usually up to 15–50 metres (49–164 ft) of depth, hidden under rocks or coral slabs and caves. They are omnivore-grazer, mainly feeding at night on sponges, algae and corals.
References
edit- ^ MolluscaBase eds. (2023). MolluscaBase. Zonaria pyrum (Gmelin, 1791). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=139502 on 2023-11-26
- Coen, G. (1933). Saggio di una Sylloge Molluscorum Adriaticorum. Memorie del Regio Comitato Talassografico Italiano. 192: i-vii, 1–186, pl. 1–10.
- Coen, G. (1949). Nota su alcune forme nuove di Cypreacea. Historia Naturalis. 3(1): 13–18.
- Repetto G., Orlando F. & Arduino G. (2005): Conchiglie del Mediterraneo, Amici del Museo "Federico Eusebio", Alba, Italy
- Bergonzoni M. (2013) The Zonaria pyrum complex. Beautifulcowries Magazine 3: 35–56.
- Lorenz, F. (2017). Cowries. A guide to the gastropod family Cypraeidae. Volume 1, Biology and systematics. Harxheim: ConchBooks. 644 pp.
External links
edit- Gmelin, J. F. (1791). Vermes. In: Gmelin J.F. (Ed.) Caroli a Linnaei Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, Ed. 13. Tome 1(6). G.E. Beer, Lipsiae
- Monterosato, T. A. di. (1898). Sur les Cypraea de la Méditerranée. Journal de Conchyliologie. 45 (3): 153-165, pl. 6
- Risso, A. (1826–1827). Histoire naturelle des principales productions de l'Europe Méridionale et particulièrement de celles des environs de Nice et des Alpes Maritimes. [book series]. volumes 1–5. Paris, F.G. Levrault. vol. 3. Mammifères. Oiseaux. Poissons / vol. 4. Mollusques. Annélides / vol. 5. Crustacés. Myriapodes, scorpionides, arachnides et acarides. Insectes. Vers intestinaux. Radiaires. Zoophytes
- Pallary, P. (1900). Coquilles marines du littoral du département d'Oran. Journal de Conchyliologie. 48(3): 211-422
- Gofas, S.; Le Renard, J.; Bouchet, P. (2001). Mollusca. in: Costello, M.J. et al. (eds), European Register of Marine Species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Patrimoines Naturels. 50: 180-213.
- Biolib
- "Zonaria pyrum pyrum". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
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