Voluta
Voluta is a genus of large, predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Volutidae, the volutes. They are commonly known as volutes, and are prized by collectors for their beautiful shells. Voluta species are found in warm waters around the world, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
Characteristics
Voluta shells are typically large, heavy, and often have a distinctive spiral shape. They are usually smooth or have fine, spiral ridges. The aperture (opening) of the shell is usually narrow and elongated, with a prominent siphonal canal. The color of the shells can vary greatly, but they often have a distinctive pattern of brown, orange, or yellow markings on a white or cream background.
Voluta species are carnivores and feed on other mollusks, worms, and crustaceans. They have a long, extensible proboscis that they use to capture prey. The proboscis is covered with tiny teeth that help to rasp and tear food.
Environments
Voluta species are found in a variety of marine environments, including sandy bottoms, rocky reefs, and seagrass beds. They are typically found in shallow to moderate depths, but some species can live in depths of up to 100 meters. They are active predators, and their distribution is often influenced by the availability of prey.
Species
The genus Voluta contains a number of species, including:
- Voluta musica (Linnaeus, 1758) - Music Volute
- Voluta eurycea (Reeve, 1849) - Australian Volute
- Voluta angasi (Crosse, 1865) - Angas' Volute
- Voluta bednalli (Brazier, 1875) - Bednall's Volute
- Voluta scapha (Linnaeus, 1758) - Boat Volute