Angaria
Angaria is a genus of medium-sized to large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Angariidae. These snails are commonly known as angarias or angariid snails. They are characterized by their distinctive, thick, heavy shells with a smooth, glossy, and often brightly colored outer surface. The shell typically has a low, rounded spire, with a wide, flattened base. The aperture is generally large and rounded, and the columella is smooth or slightly folded.
Common Names
Angaria snails are commonly known as angarias or angariid snails. They are sometimes also called "false trochus" due to their resemblance to snails in the genus Trochus.
Characteristics
Angaria snails possess several characteristic features that distinguish them from other gastropod species:
- Shell: Thick, heavy, smooth, glossy, and often brightly colored. The shell has a low, rounded spire with a wide, flattened base.
- Aperture: Large and rounded.
- Columella: Smooth or slightly folded.
- Operculum: Corneo-calcareous, multispiral, and usually brown.
- Foot: Large and muscular, with a distinct propodium.
- Radula: Rachidian tooth with two lateral cusps and three marginal cusps.
Environments
Angaria snails are found in a variety of marine environments, primarily in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. They are commonly found in shallow water habitats, including coral reefs, rocky shores, and sandy bottoms. They often inhabit areas with strong currents or wave action.
References
World Register of Marine Species
Journal of Molluscan Studies