Monoplex pilearis
Species of gastropod
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Monoplex pilearis, the hairy triton, is a species of medium-sized predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cymatiidae.[1]
| Monoplex pilearis | |
|---|---|
| |
| A shell of Monoplex pilearis (Linnaeus, 1758) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Littorinimorpha |
| Family: | Cymatiidae |
| Genus: | Monoplex |
| Species: | M. pilearis |
| Binomial name | |
| Monoplex pilearis | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Distribution
This species is widespread in the Atlantic, in the Red Sea and in the Indo-Western Pacific from East and South Africa, to eastern Polynesia, north to southern Japan and Hawaii and south to southern Queensland.[2][3][4][5]
(Monoplex martinianus) This marine species occurs from Florida in the United States to Brazil, Bermudas, Canary Islands, Liberia to Gabon, and Ascension Island.
Habitat
Description
Shells of Monoplex pilearis can reach a size of 38–140 millimetres (1.5–5.5 in).[2] These large shells are elongate with a tall spire and a strongly inflated body whorl. They show a yellowish-brown surface with chestnut- brown spiral ribs. The columella and the aperture are dark brown with white teeth.[6] The outer sculpture is relatively fine, with long inner ridges of the outer lip, extending deep into the aperture.[5]
Biology
These sea snails are active predators. They are reported as feeding on bivalves. Eggs are laid on the substrate in large capsules clustered in masses.[5]
