Malacology
Malacology is the study of mollusks. This includes animals like octopus, snails, slugs, and clams. It is the second largest phylum of animals, making them one of the most successful groups on the planet. There are over 80,000 described species of mollusks with many more left to be discovered. Mullusca is composed of 8 recognized classes including Cephalopoda, Gastropoda, Polyplacophora, Scaphapoda, Monoplacophorans, the Aplacophorans, Caudofoveata and Solenogastres, and Bivalvia.
Scotch Bonnet Snail
(Born, 1778)
Semicassis granulata
Class:
Gastropoda
Order:
Littorinimorpha
Family:
Cassidae
Image Voucher:
ANSP 174025
Shell Information
Length (mm): 25-75
Dextral
Chirality:
This shell has about 5 whorls with a relatively short spire and large body whorl. The sculpture of this shell can be highly variable from smooth to having deep spiral grooves. The aperture is elongated with folds on the inside of the outer lip. It is usually tan to white in color and sometimes has orange-brown spots or lines.
Description:
Ecological Information
Distribution:
Depth (m):
North Carolina to Uruguay
0 to 183 meters
Diet:
Carnivore
Habitat:
Marine; Soft substrates
Misc. Facts
It is the official state shell of North Carolina.
Citations
MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Semicassis granulata (Born, 1778). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=419784 on 2021-06-23
Rosenberg, G., F. Moretzsohn, and E. F. Garc�a. 29. Gastropoda (Mollusca) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 579�699 in Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico�Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, Texas.
Morris, P. A. (1987). A field guide to shells: Atlantic and Gulf coasts and the West Indies (3rd ed.). Houghton Mifflin.
Rosenberg, G. 2009. Malacolog 4.1.1: A Database of Western Atlantic Marine Mollusca. [WWW database (version 4.1.1)] URL http://www.malacolog.org/