Bullia mauritiana
| Bullia mauritiana | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Neogastropoda |
| Family: | Nassariidae |
| Genus: | Bullia |
| Species: | B. mauritiana |
| Binomial name | |
| Bullia mauritiana (Gray, 1839) | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Bullia mauritiana, the Mauritius bullia, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Nassariidae, the Nassa mud snails or dog whelks.[1]
Description
Exterior Shell and Structure
The shell size varies between 30mm and 75mm.[2] The shell's base color varies from cream colored to sandy yellow or tan. B. mauritiana has axial bands that are slightly lighter in color than the base color of the shell. The shell has a fusiform shape with a conical spire and a rounded body whorl. The shell has 6-8 whorls. The whorls of the spire are straight sided with prominently shouldered sutures between whorls, the spire culminates in a pointed apex at the protoconch. The sculpture of B. mauritiana has spiral striae, lightly impressed on the body whorl. In some specimens, beginning on the whorls of the spire is a deeply impressed band nearest to the anterior end of each whorl and 2-3 more lightly impressed striae per whorl after the initial deeply impressed striae.[3][4] The aperture is teardrop shaped, narrowing towards the anal sulcus.
Distribution and Habitat
This species is distributed in the Indian Ocean along Madagascar and South Africa. B. mauritiana is a marine benthic snail that is found primarily on sandy shores.[5][6]
Life Habits
Diet
B. mauritiana is an opportunistic predator and scavenger. This species is carnivorous, and consumes live polychaetas and small crustaceans that share the snail's sandy shore habitat.[5]
Locomotion
B. mauritiana moves by mucus mediated gliding. Other Bullia species have been observed utilizing their wide, muscular foot to propel themselves across sand. They also use this foot to dig and burrow into the sand.[7]
Reproduction
B. mauritiana is a non-broadcast spawner and reproduces sexually.[6][8]
References
- 1 2 Bullia mauritiana (Gray, 1839). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 4 February 2011.
- ↑ "Bullia mauritiana - Gastropods by Eddie Hardy". www.conchology.be. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
- ↑ "Miscellaneous Gastropods". Schooner Specimen Shells. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
- ↑ Beechey, F. W., Belcher, Edward, Bennett, Edward Turner, Buckland, William, Collie, Alexander, Gray, John Edward, Landseer, Thomas, Lay, George Tradescant, Lear, Edward, Owen, Richard, Richardson, John, Sowerby, George Brettingham, Sowerby, James de Carle, Vigors, N. A. , Zeitter, John Christian, & Great Britain. (1839). The zoology of Captain Beechey’s voyage (p. 126). H.G. Bohn. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/48931638
- 1 2 Taylor, John; Morris, Noel; Taylor, Cynthia. "Food Specialization and the Evolution of Predatory Prosobranch Gastropods" (PDF). Paleontology. 23 (2): 375–409 – via ResearchGate.
- 1 2 "Mauritian bullia - Encyclopedia of Life". eol.org. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
- ↑ A. N. Hodgson, E. R. Trueman, The use of the foot in burrowing by the whelk Bullia, Journal of Molluscan Studies, Volume 51, Issue 1, Spring 1985, Page 101, https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.mollus.a065877
- ↑ "Bullia mauritiana, Mauritius Bullia". www.sealifebase.ca. Archived from the original on 17 February 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
- Dautzenberg, Ph. (1929). Mollusques testacés marins de Madagascar. Faune des Colonies Francaises, Tome III
External links
- "Bullia mauritiana". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 4 February 2011.