Phrontis vibex
A marine gastropod mollusk in the family Nassariidae.
Phrontis vibex, called the bruised nassa, is a marine snail in the Nassariidae family—the group known as Nassa mud snails or dog whelks. Its shell is oval and cone-shaped, measuring 10 to 20 mm long. The spire has six or seven unclear whorls that are slightly convex, with lengthwise folds across the whole whorl and very fine, closely spaced transverse lines; the lines on the base are more pronounced. The longitudinal folds fade away on the right side of the body whorl, where only bumps remain near the top. The whitish opening is rounded, and the cavity inside is brown with transverse bands. The outer lip has a border on the outside and small fine grooves on the inside. The columella is curved and covered by a fairly wide callus—brown at the top and white near the base, decorated with small droplets. The shell color is olive, with a white or yellowish band; the folds and bumps are sometimes whitish on the tops of the body whorls. This species ranges from 41.6°N to 27°S and 97.38°W to 34.9°W, inhabiting the northwest Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and southwest Atlantic. It occurs off the United States (Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Texas), Mexico (Tabasco, Veracruz, Campeche, Yucatán, Quintana Roo), Nicaragua, the Lesser Antilles, Costa Rica, Cuba, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela (Gulf of Venezuela), Jamaica, the Virgin Islands (St. Croix), and Brazil (Para, Maranhao, Ceara, Rio Grande do Norte, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Parana, Santa Catarina).
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Phrontis vibex
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The shell of Phrontis vibex is ovate and conical, with a spire comprising six or seven indistinct whorls that are subconvex and plaited throughout their length, crossed by fine and very close transverse striae. The striae on the base are more prominent. The longitudinal folds disappear insensibly upon the right side of the body whorl, at the upper part of which only nodosities remain. The whitish aperture is rounded, and the cavity has a brown color marked by transverse bands. The outer lip is bordered externally and ornamented internally with small, fine striae. The columella is arcuated and covered with a fairly wide callosity, brown at its upper part and white towards the base, which is adorned with small guttules. The coloring of the shell is olive, with a white or yellowish band; the folds and tubercles are sometimes whitish on the top of the body whorls.
Reader's Guide
Phrontis vibex is distributed across a broad range in the northwest Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and southwest Atlantic, from 41.6°N to 27°S and from 97.38°W to 34.9°W. This marine species occurs off the coasts of the United States (from Massachusetts south to Florida and along the Gulf states of Louisiana and Texas), Mexico (Tabasco, Veracruz, Campeche, Yucatán, Quintana Roo), and many Caribbean and South American countries including Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Cuba, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Jamaica, the Virgin Islands (St. Croix), and Brazil (from Para to Santa Catarina). Its presence in the Lesser Antilles is also recorded. The species has been studied in the context of egg-capsule deposition, with temporal variation noted. Its shell morphology—with plaited whorls, fine striae, and olive coloring with a pale band—distinguishes it within the Nassariidae family. The species is part of the broader group of Nassa mud snails or dog whelks, which are common in shallow marine environments.
Did You Know?
- The shell length of Phrontis vibex varies from 10 mm to 20 mm.
- The species occurs from Massachusetts to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.
- The columella is covered with a callosity that is brown at the upper part and white near the base.
More in Marine Snails: Ceriths, Nassas and Conchs 1-24
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