Pirenella conica

Pirenella conica is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Potamididae.

Taxonomy

Reid et al. (2008) moved Potamides conicus to the genus Cerithideopsilla based on the molecular phylogeny research. Other subsequent study also confirmed this placement within Cerithideopsilla. Other sources treat the species as Pirenella conica.

Distribution

Distribution of Pirenella conica include Mediterranean and Indian Ocean.

This species occurs in or around:

• European waters
• Madagascar
• The Red Sea

Description

The shell can attain a length of 14 mm.has a siphonal notch in the lower margin of the opening and the shell is thick.

Ecology

The development of Pirenella conica is non-planktotrophic.

Parasites of Pirenella conica include:

• Pirenella conica serves as the first intermediate host of Heterophyes heterophyes.

References

Further reading

• Dautzenberg, Ph. (1929). Mollusques testacés marins de Madagascar. Faune des Colonies Francaises, Tome III
• Vine, P. (1986). Red Sea Invertebrates. Immel Publishing, London. 224 pp
• Oliverio, Marco (2006). Gastropoda Prosobranchia Caenogastropoda, in: Revisione della Checklist della fauna marina italiana

External links

• Gastropods.com : Pirenella conica tricolor (f); accessed: 27 April 2011