Neptunea antiqua
Species
Photographer / copyright holder
Steve Wilkinson
Specimen collected by Celia Pain collection from North Irish Sea, off Island Magee. Length = 135mm.
Neptunea antiqua
<em>Neptunea antiqua</em> (Linnaeus, 1758)
Neptunea antiqua
Distribution and status
Bay of Biscay to Scandinavia.
Ecology and behaviour
Lives on all kinds of bottom. Eats bivalves, worms and carrion.
Similar species
- Neptunea despecta Brownish, turreted, sculpture much coarser
- Buccinum undatum Has sinuous costae, shorter siphonal canal
- Beringius turtoni Ridged shell, spire taller, tan periostracum
- Volutopsius norwegicus Shell porcelaineus, spire taller
Key identification features
- Spindle shaped
- Finely ribbed shell
- Large and heavy construction
- Short siphonal canal
Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000176689]
Sort order
2950
Taxonomic group
Marine snail
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Shell spindle shaped, robust in construction, 7-8 tumid whorls, up to 160mm. Mouth oval, about 60 % of height, siphonal canal short and open, lip reflected. Shell with fine growth and spiral lines, white to reddish colour, some adults with yellow internally. Some adult North Sea forms have a very flared lip.