Euspira montagui, commonly known as Montagui’s moon snail, is a species of marine gastropod mollusk belonging to the family Naticidae. These snails are characterized by their distinctive, smooth, and often brightly colored shells.
Description and Characteristics
Euspira montagui possesses a globose, somewhat flattened shell, usually measuring up to 30 mm in diameter. The shell exhibits a smooth surface with fine growth lines, and its color varies from white to yellowish-brown, often with a darker brown or reddish-brown pattern. The aperture, or opening, of the shell is wide and oval, featuring a distinct lip. The operculum, a protective plate covering the opening when the animal retracts, is thin and horny. These snails are commonly found in a variety of habitats, including sandy bottoms, muddy sediments, and rocky shores.
Habitat and Occurrence
Euspira montagui is a relatively common species throughout the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. It typically inhabits the intertidal and subtidal zones, ranging in depth from the low tide mark to approximately 100 meters. They are particularly prevalent in the neritic zone, which encompasses the shallow waters of the continental shelf.
Taxonomy
Euspira montagui belongs to the family Naticidae, a group of marine snails commonly known as moon snails. These snails are classified within the order Littorinimorpha, which includes a diverse array of marine gastropods, and the Class Gastropoda, the largest class of mollusks, encompassing a vast diversity of shelled and shell-less creatures.
Feeding
Euspira montagui is a carnivorous predator, feeding primarily on other mollusks, particularly bivalves. They use their strong, radula, a ribbon-like structure with rows of teeth, to drill through the shells of their prey. Once a hole is created, Euspira montagui introduces its proboscis, a long, fleshy tube, to suck out the soft tissues of its prey.
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