Babylonia japonica
Appearance
Babylonia japonica | |
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Two live but retracted individuals of Babylonia japonica | |
Scientific classification | |
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Species: | B. japonica
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Binomial name | |
Babylonia japonica (Reeve, 1842)
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Babylonia japonica, common name the Japanese Babylon, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Babyloniidae.[1]
Distribution
This marine species occurs off Korea, Japan and Taiwan.
Description
The length of the shell varies between 40 mm and 85 mm.
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2016) |
Human use
Although this species is generally considered edible for humans, it is known to bioaccumulate toxins under certain conditions, namely the surugatoxin family, which causes blockage of autonomic ganglia, and tetrodotoxin (pufferfish toxin). In September 1965 a food poisoning outbreak occurred after ingestion of this species from Suruga Bay. The symptoms largely corresponded to ganglionic blockage, with parasympathetic dysfunction being more common than sympathetic dysfunction.[2][3]
References
- ^ Babylonia japonica (Reeve, 1842). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 5 May 2015.
- ^ Hayashi, E., & Yamada, S. (1975). Pharmacological studies on surugatoxin, the toxic principle from Japanese ivory mollusc (Babylonia japonica). British Journal of Pharmacology, 53(2), 207–215. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1666298/)
- ^ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270046188_Occurrence_of_tetrodotoxin_in_the_Japanese_ivory_shell_Babylonia_Japonica; retrieved 22 September 2018
- Fraussen K. & Stratmann D. (2013) The family Babyloniidae. In: G.T. Poppe & K. Groh (eds), A conchological iconography. Harxheim: Conchbooks. 96 pp., pls 1-48.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Babylonia japonica.