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Family Costellariidae - costate miters
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Class |
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Gastropoda |
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Environment |
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Fresh : No |
Brackish : No |
Marine : Yes |
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Remark |
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Shell fusiform-ovate, with a high, tapering spire and a rather narrow aperture. Surface with a predominantly axial sculpture. Periostracum thin or absent. Aperture elongate, anteriorly notched by a short siphonal canal. Outer lip generally smooth on the margin, finely lirate deeply inside. Columella with a few strong spiral folds, the larger ones situated posteriorly. No operculum. Head relatively small and narrow, with a pair of closely set, elongate tentacles bearing eyes on their outer sides. Snout extensible, moderately long to short, with a small mouth. Foot small, triangular, usually truncate anteriorly. Mostly living in littoral and shallow subtidal, tropical or subtropical habitats. Smaller species usually in rock crevices or hard coral areas, larger ones burrowing in sand. Active predators or scavengers, sucking up soft tissues and body fluids of their prey. Sexes separate, fertilization internal. Eggs released in blister-shaped capsules attached by a flat base, each capsule containing only a few eggs. Hatching generally occurring at the crawling young stage. Mostly collected for shell trade (Ref. 349). |
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