Euspira
Euspira is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Naticidae, the moon snails. Euspira snails are found in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Northwest Pacific. They are typically small to medium-sized snails, with a smooth, rounded shell. The genus is characterized by its distinctive operculum, a hard plate that covers the opening of the shell when the animal retracts.
Common Names
Euspira snails are commonly known as "moon snails," "sand snails," or "false moon snails." This is because their shells resemble those of the true moon snails (genus Natica).
Characteristics
Euspira snails have a distinctive shell shape, with a smooth, rounded, and often somewhat flattened spire. The aperture of the shell is wide and oval, and the outer lip is typically thin and sharp. The shell is typically white or cream-colored, with some species having brown or orange markings.
Environment
Euspira snails are found in a variety of marine environments, including sand flats, mudflats, and seagrass beds. They are typically found at depths of less than 50 meters. These snails are often found buried in the sediment, using their muscular foot to burrow.
Diet
Euspira snails are carnivores and feed mainly on other mollusks, including clams, mussels, and other snails. They use their radula, a ribbon of teeth, to drill a hole through the shell of their prey and then inject digestive enzymes.
Reproduction
Euspira snails are dioecious, meaning that they have separate sexes. Females lay large, white, spherical egg capsules that can be found attached to rocks or other hard surfaces. The capsules hatch into veliger larvae, which drift in the plankton for several weeks before settling to the bottom and metamorphosing into juvenile snails.
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