Bullia mauritiana
A carnivorous scavenger and predator of Indian Ocean sandy shores.
Last updated
H. Zell · via Wikipedia: Bullia mauritiana · CC BY-SA 3.0
Bullia mauritiana, commonly known as the Mauritius bullia, is a species of sea snail in the family Nassariidae, which includes the Nassa mud snails or dog whelks. This marine gastropod mollusk is notable for its fusiform shell with a conical spire and rounded body whorl, and for its role as an opportunistic predator and scavenger on sandy shores.
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumMollusca
- ClassGastropoda
- SubclassCaenogastropoda
- OrderNeogastropoda
- FamilyNassariidae
- GenusBullia
- SpeciesBullia mauritiana
Named by (Gray, 1839)
Close relatives
Other species of Bullia with a Codexery entry.
- Bullia callosa Bullia callosa
- Bullia digitalis Bullia digitalis
- Bullia laevissima Bullia laevissima
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Bullia mauritiana (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 208015 (CC BY 4.0)
How big is it?
Largest length in the source, 0.07 m, next to a 1.8 m person.
Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: Wikipedia: Bullia mauritiana
Where the bullia mauritiana has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (34 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 11 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
- mauritiana
Facts from the source article.
Background
Bullia mauritiana is a marine benthic snail found primarily on sandy shores in the Indian Ocean, with a distribution along Madagascar and South Africa. Its shell, which ranges from 30mm to 75mm in size, exhibits a base color of cream, sandy yellow, or tan, with axial bands that are slightly lighter than the base. The shell is fusiform, featuring a conical spire and a rounded body whorl, and comprises 6 to 8 whorls.
The whorls of the spire are straight sided with prominently shouldered sutures, culminating in a pointed apex at the protoconch. The sculpture includes spiral striae lightly impressed on the body whorl; in some specimens, a deeply impressed band appears nearest the anterior end of each whorl on the spire, followed by 2 to 3 more lightly impressed striae per whorl. The aperture is teardrop shaped, narrowing towards the anal sulcus.
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 mauritiana (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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