Vasum ceramicum
| Vasum ceramicum | |
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| Shell of Vasum ceramicum from Maluku Islands at the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano | |
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| Species: | V. ceramicum
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| Binomial name | |
| Vasum ceramicum (Linnaeus, 1758)
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Vasum ceramicum, common name ceramic vase or heavy whelk, is a species of medium to large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinellidae.
Description
Vasum ceramicum has a large, thick and heavy shell that reaches a length of 59 – 160 mm. This shell is quite elongated, conical or vase-shaped (hence the common name). It has long siphonal canal, three strong, columella folds and 7-10 strong spiny tubercles in each loop. It is colored white and greys or dark brown externally, while the aperture may be colored white or pale brown.
Distribution
This species is widespread in the Indo-Pacific, from eastern Africa up to eastern Polynesia.
Habitat
This sea snail lives on lower eulittoral, rocky areas at depth of 10 to 40 m.
References