Emarginula sicula is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Fissurellidae, the keyhole limpets. Like all members of its family, Emarginula sicula exhibits a distinctive, keyhole-shaped aperture.
Description & Characteristics
The shell of Emarginula sicula is typically small, reaching a maximum size of about 10 millimeters. Its shape is broadly oval, with a low, conical apex. The shell’s exterior surface is characterized by a series of fine, radial ribs that run from the apex to the margin. These ribs are often crossed by even finer concentric growth lines. The shell’s color is typically a pale brown or yellowish-brown, often with darker brown markings.
Habitat and Occurrence
Emarginula sicula is a marine species that primarily inhabits the intertidal and subtidal zones. Its distribution is widespread across various regions, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea. It’s often found clinging to rocks, algae, and other hard substrates in these environments. The species’ preference for these areas allows it to thrive in a range of depths, from the shallows of the intertidal zone to the deeper reaches of the subtidal zone.
Taxonomy
Emarginula sicula is a member of the Gastropoda class, which encompasses a vast array of snails and slugs. Within this class, it belongs to the Lepetellida order, a group characterized by their generally low-profile, cap-shaped shells. It is further classified under the Fissurellidae family, a group of marine snails that share the defining feature of a “keyhole” aperture, a hole in the shell that allows water to enter the mantle cavity.
Feeding
Emarginula sicula is an herbivorous snail, primarily feeding on algae. Its diet consists of a variety of microalgae, diatoms, and other benthic algae that it grazes from the surfaces of rocks and other hard substrates. The presence of a radula, a ribbon-like structure with teeth, allows Emarginula sicula to scrape algae off its chosen substrates.
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