Distorsio
Distorsio is a genus of large, predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Personidae. These snails are known for their distinctive, distorted, and often colorful shells.
Common Names
Distorsio snails are commonly known as "distorted tritons" or "trumpet shells." They are also sometimes referred to as "distorted cowries" due to their shell shape.
Characteristics
Distorsio snails are characterized by their large, heavy shells that are often distorted and irregular in shape. The shells are typically covered in a thick, smooth periostracum, which gives them a velvety appearance. The aperture of the shell is wide and usually has a distinct lip. The snails themselves are carnivorous and feed on other mollusks, such as clams and other snails. They are also known to scavenge on dead animals.
Environments
Distorsio snails are found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. They inhabit a variety of marine habitats, including coral reefs, seagrass beds, and sandy bottoms. They are typically found at depths of 10 to 100 meters, but some species can be found at depths of up to 500 meters.
Species
There are currently 14 recognized species in the genus Distorsio, including:
- Distorsio anus (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Distorsio clathrata (Sowerby, 1825)
- Distorsio constricta (Röding, 1798)
- Distorsio decipiens (Reeve, 1844)
- Distorsio elongata (Röding, 1798)
- Distorsio gigas (Röding, 1798)
- Distorsio granularis (Schröter, 1803)
- Distorsio laevigata (Röding, 1798)
- Distorsio magnifica (Reeve, 1844)
- Distorsio maura (Röding, 1798)
- Distorsio reticularis (Röding, 1798)
- Distorsio rugosa (Röding, 1798)
- Distorsio sarcodes (Reeve, 1844)
- Distorsio tosaensis (Kuroda, 1931)