Penion maximus
Species of gastropod
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Penion maximus is a species of very large predatory sea snail or whelk, commonly known as giant whelk or great whelk, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Austrosiphonidae. [1] [2]
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| Penion maximus | |
|---|---|
| |
| A shell of Penion maximus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Neogastropoda |
| Family: | Austrosiphonidae |
| Genus: | Penion |
| Species: | P. maximus |
| Binomial name | |
| Penion maximus (Tryon, G.W., 1881) | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Siphonalia maxima Tryon, 1881 (superseded combination) | |
Description
Penion maximus is the largest species in this genus, measuring 190.5 mm in length.[3][4] The species could be confused with the sympatric species P. mandarinus, however P. mandarinus is typically smaller and has a smoother shell with a shorter siphonal canal.[3] Their shells are highly coveted due to the intricate designs embedded in onto the shells.
(Original description) The white shell is sprinkled and blotched with light chestnut-brown across the spiral ribs. A broad brown band is positioned between the tubercles on the shoulder of the whorls, while the aperture remains a pure white. [5]
Distribution
The range of the species extends from waters off Tasmania and Victoria to lower Queensland.[3][4]
Evolution
Penion maximus is closely related to another Australian species P. mandarinus.[4][6] The species have overlapping geographic ranges (sympatry) and may have evolved from a common ancestor via niche differentiation based on prey size and water depth.[6]
