Rhinovasum rhinoceros

Rhinovasum rhinoceros, common name the rhinoceros vase snail or rhinoceros vase shell, is a species of large predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk within the family Vasidae.

• Rhinovasum rhinoceros attolinoi <small>(T. Cossignani, 2017)</small>
• Rhinovasum rhinoceros rhinoceros <small>(Gmelin, 1791)</small>

Description

The length of the shell: up to 90&nbsp;mm, similar to Vasum turbinellus, in shape, but more rosy pink with light brown patches. The parietal wall is yellow-brown.The columella is wide, orange pink, with only three folds and large nodules on the shoulder. (Richmond, 1997).

Distribution

This species occurs in the Western Indian Ocean off Tanzania and Kenya.

Habitat

Shallow, rocky, sandy substrata.

References

• Spry, J.F. (1961). The sea shells of Dar es Salaam: Gastropods. Tanganyika Notes and Records 56

External links

• 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
• Abbott, R. T. (1959). The family Vasidae in the Indo-Pacific. Indo-Pacific Mollusca. 1 (1): 15-32