Trochia cingulata
Species of gastropod
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Trochia cingulata, common name : the girdled dogwhelk, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.[1]
| Trochia cingulata | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Several shells of Trochia cingulata (museum specimens at Naturalis Biodiversity Center) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Neogastropoda |
| Family: | Muricidae |
| Genus: | Trochia |
| Species: | T. cingulata |
| Binomial name | |
| Trochia cingulata (Linnaeus, 1771) | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Description
Trochus cingulatus (often listed now as Trochia cingulata) is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, commonly known as murex snails or rock snails. [2]
The shell size varies between 20 mm and 45 mm.
Key Facts
- Appearance: The shell is generally elongated and conical, with distinct ridges and often a brownish or mottled pattern. It can be quite pretty and is sometimes collected for its decorative value.
- Habitat: It’s typically found in shallow, rocky marine environments, often along the coast of southern Africa, especially around Namibia and South Africa.
- Behavior: Like many muricids, it's a predatory snail, feeding on other marine invertebrates, including bivalves.
Distribution
This species occurs in the Atlantic Ocean off Namibia and the West Coast of South Africa.[1]
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