Bullia laevissima
A blind marine snail with a remarkably large, water-absorbing foot.
Last updated
Naturalis Biodiversity Center · via Wikipedia: Bullia laevissima · CC0
Bullia laevissima, commonly known as the fat plough shell, is a species of sea snail in the family Nassariidae. It is notable for its large foot and ability to absorb and expel water, as well as its blindness.
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumMollusca
- ClassGastropoda
- SubclassCaenogastropoda
- OrderNeogastropoda
- FamilyNassariidae
- GenusBullia
- SpeciesBullia laevissima
Named by (Gmelin, 1791)
Close relatives
Other species of Bullia with a Codexery entry.
- Bullia callosa Bullia callosa
- Bullia digitalis Bullia digitalis
- Bullia mauritiana Bullia mauritiana
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Bullia laevissima (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 225369 (CC BY 4.0)
Where the bullia laevissima has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (197 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 14 inland records left out (institution coordinates).
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain)
Quick Facts
- Species
- laevissima
Facts from the source article.
Background
The shell of Bullia laevissima is smooth, ovate, oblong, and ventricose, with a whitish ground color and slightly apparent transverse brown bands. The epidermis is reddish brown.
The spire is short and obtuse, with sutures slightly apparent. The aperture is oblong and wide, narrowed at the upper part and more dilated at the base, ending in an oblique, wide emargination. The outer lip is thin and rounded, colored internally fawn, with a prominent fold near the base that continues around to the inferior third of the columella, which is arcuated and slightly oblique.
The animal is blind, as observed by Quoy and Gaimard. Its foot is very large, extending from all parts of the shell, and the operculum is exceedingly small.
The foot is equipped with pores that allow the mollusk to absorb a large quantity of water, which it can throw off in several directions when disturbed. It lives in deep water and uses its foot to bury itself in sand when brought toward the shore. It is very voracious and is generally taken by placing a piece of flesh as bait in a net.
More in Marine Snails: Ceriths, Nassas and Conchs
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Bullia laevissima (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Classification: the source article's taxobox; order, family and genus checked against WoRMS, the World Register of Marine Species (CC BY 4.0).
- Occurrence records: GBIF (CC0 / CC BY). Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain).
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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