Trophon geversianus, commonly known as Gevers's trophon, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
The two varieties Trophon geversianus var. calva Kobelt, 1878 and Trophon geversianus var. lirata Kobelt, 1878 have been synonymized with Trophon geversianus (Pallas, 1774)
Description
The size of an adult shell varies between 30 mm and 111 mm. Highly variable. Aperture greater than 1/2 of length, brown to violaceous (always coloured). Exterior with strong lamellae. Also with spiral cords, alone or forming a reticulate with the lamellae, or smooth. Brown to whitish, dull. Feeding Mytilidae on intertidal rocks.
Distribution
This species is found in the Atlantic Ocean off Argentina, the Falkland Islands and Tierra del Fuego, Chile.
Imposex
The phenomenon known as imposex, the development of nonfunctional male sexual organs in female individuals, has been observed in T. geversianus. This condition is triggered by exposure to organic tin compounds such as tributyltin (TBT) and triphenyltin (TPT), is irreversible, and can have severe consequences for gastropod species, ranging from individual sterilization to potential population collapse. Organotin compounds are commonly used as biocides and antifouling agents, added to marine paints to prevent organisms from growing on the hulls of boats and ships. As a result, high concentrations often accumulate in the waters around shipyards and docking areas, posing a serious threat to nearby marine life through prolonged exposure.
References
- Lamarck J.B. (1816). Liste des objets représentés dans les planches de cette livraison. In: Tableau encyclopédique et méthodique des trois règnes de la Nature. Mollusques et Polypes divers. Agasse, Paris. 16 pp.
- Engl, W. (2012). Shells of Antarctica. Hackenheim: Conchbooks. 402 pp
External links
- Küster, H. C.; Kobelt, W. (1839-1878). Die geschwänzten und bewehrten Purpurschnecken (Murex, Ranella, Tritonium, Trophon, Hindsia). In Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen. In: Systematisches Conchylien Cabinet von Martini und Chemnitz, ed. 2, Vol. 3(2): 1-336, pls 1-77. Nürnberg: Bauer & Raspe. Published in parts:
- Gmelin, J. F. (1791). Vermes. In: Gmelin J.F. (Ed.) Caroli a Linnaei Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, Ed. 13. Tome 1(6). G.E. Beer, Lipsiae
- Schumacher, C. F. (1817). Essai d'un nouveau système des habitations des vers testacés. Schultz, Copenghagen. iv + 288 pp., 22 pls.
- Perry, G. (1811). Conchology, or the natural history of shells: containing a new arrangement of the genera and species, illustrated by coloured engravings executed from the natural specimens, and including the latest discoveries. 4 pp., 61 plates. London
- Hupé L.H. (1854). Fauna Chilena. Moluscos, pp. 1-407, In: Gay, C. (1854). Historia fÃÂsica y polÃÂtica de Chile según documentos adquiridos en esta Republica durante doce años de residencia en ella y publicada bajo los auspicios del Supremo Gobierno. ZoologÃÂa, Tomo 8. Paris, published by the author, and Santiago de Chile, Museo de Historia Natural de Santiago
- Lightfoot, J. (1786). A Catalogue of the Portland Museum, lately the property of the Dutchess Dowager of Portland, deceased; which will be sold by auction by Mr. Skinner & Co. (book). London. viii + 194 pp
- Griffiths, H.J.; Linse, K.; Crame, J.A. (2003). SOMBASE - Southern Ocean mollusc database: a tool for biogeographic analysis in diversity and evolution. Organisms Diversity and Evolution. 3: 207-213
- Harasewych, M. G. (1984). Comparative anatomy of four primitive muricacean gastropods: implications for trophonine phylogeny. American Malacological Bulletin. 3(1): 11-26.