Agneziidae
Agneziidae is a family of marine snails belonging to the order Neogastropoda. These gastropods are commonly known as olive shells or olive snails. They are characterized by their distinctive, smooth, and glossy shells that resemble olives. The shells are typically fusiform in shape, meaning they are spindle-shaped, with a pointed apex and a slightly expanded aperture. These shells are often beautifully patterned and come in a variety of colors, including brown, white, yellow, and orange.
Characteristics
Agneziidae are predatory snails that typically live in shallow to deep waters. They have a long, extensible proboscis, which they use to reach into crevices and capture prey. The proboscis is equipped with a radula, a rasping tongue-like structure, which helps them scrape food from their prey. Their diet consists mainly of other molluscs, including other snails and bivalves. Some species are known to be cannibalistic.
Environments
Agneziidae can be found in various marine environments, including:
- Shallow water reefs
- Sandy bottoms
- Muddy substrates
- Seagrass beds
They are widely distributed across the world's oceans, with a higher concentration in tropical and subtropical regions.
References
For more information on Agneziidae, you can consult the following reliable sources: