Rapana rapiformis

Rapana rapiformis
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Family:	Muricidae
Genus:	Rapana
Species:	R. rapiformis
Binomial name
	Rapana rapiformis; (Born, 1778)
Synonyms
	Buccinum bulbosum Dillwyn, 1817; Murex rapa Gmelin, 1791; Murex rapiformis Born, 1778; Purpura rapa Valenciennes, 1846 · junior subjective synonym; Rapa bulbosa (Dillwyn, 1817); Rapa volema Röding, 1798; Rapana bulbosa (Dillwyn, 1817);

Rapana rapiformis is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.^[1]

Description

A distinctive shell, up to 7 cm, with a low spire, a large body whorl and a wide aperture. The spire whorls show deep sutures and moderate-sized tubercles (2-3 rows of tubercles on the body whorl, most prominent on shoulder). The colour of the shell is mottled orange, brown and cream. The aperture is white.^[1]

Distribution

This species occurs in deep water on sand in the Western Indian Ocean, the Red Sea to Gulf of Oman

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Rapana rapiformis (Born, 1778). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 24 April 2010.

Leung KF. & Morton B. (2000). The 1998 resurvey of the subtidal molluscan community of the southeastern waters of Hong Kong, six years after dredging began and three since it ended.In: Proceedings of the Tenth International Marine Biological Workshop: Morton B, editor. The Marine Flora and Fauna of Hong Kong and Southern China. The marine flora and fauna of Hong Kong and southern China V. Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong. pp 553-617
Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). Checklist of marine biota of China seas. China Science Press. 1267 pp.
Claremont, M., Vermeij, G. J., Williams, S. T. & Reid, D. G. (2013). Global phylogeny and new classification of the Rapaninae (Gastropoda: Muricidae), dominant molluscan predators on tropical rocky seashores. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 66: 91–102.
Steyn, D. G.; Lussi, M. (2005). Offshore Shells of Southern Africa: A pictorial guide to more than 750 Gastropods. Published by the authors. pp. i–vi, 1–289.
Houart, R.; Kilburn, R. N. & Marais, A. P. (2010). Muricidae. pp. 176-270, in: Marais A.P. & Seccombe A.D. (eds), Identification guide to the seashells of South Africa. Volume 1. Groenkloof: Centre for Molluscan Studies. 376 pp

External links

[WoRMS-1] Rapana rapiformis (Born, 1778). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 24 April 2010.

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