Volva volva is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Ovulidae (false cowries).[1] In Australia the shells are commonly referred to as a shuttle or spindle egg cowry.[2]

Volva volva
Volva volva near Ponta do Ouro, Mozambique
Five views of a shell of Volva volva
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Family: Ovulidae
Genus: Volva
Species:
V. volva
Binomial name
Volva volva
Synonyms[1]

Description

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The shell of Volva volva ranges between 45 and 186 mm (1.8 and 7.3 in) in length. The canals are long and narrow, while the body whorl is about one-third or less of the shell length.[3]

Distribution

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Volva volva is found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b Volva volva (Linnaeus, 1758). WoRMS (2009). Volva volva (Linnaeus, 1758). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=431078 on 5 June 2010 .
  2. ^ Stone, Sharman Nance (1979). Australian sea shells. Budget Books in association with Lloyd O'Neil. ISBN 0908505094. OCLC 27572625.
  3. ^ Harasewych, M. G.; Moretzsohn, Fabio (2010). The Book of Shells: A Life-Size Guide to Identifying and Classifying Six Hundred Seashells. University of Chicago Press. p. 343. ISBN 978-0226315775.
  4. ^ "Volva volva". The Encyclopedia of Life.