Volva volva
| Volva volva | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Volva volva near Ponta do Ouro, Mozambique | |
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| Five views of a shell of Volva volva | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Littorinimorpha |
| Family: | Ovulidae |
| Genus: | Volva |
| Species: | V. volva |
| Binomial name | |
| Volva volva | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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]
Description
[edit]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] These canals can be straight or curved and the colour of the shell varies from a pale cream to light pink.[4]
Distribution
[edit]Volva volva is found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.[5]
References
[edit]- 1 2 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 .
- ↑ Stone, Sharman Nance (1979). Australian sea shells. Budget Books in association with Lloyd O'Neil. ISBN 0908505094. OCLC 27572625.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Scase, Robert; Storey, Eric (1975). The world of shells. Berkshire: Osprey. ISBN 978-0-85045-222-8.
- ↑ "Volva volva". The Encyclopedia of Life.