Cerithiopsis tubercularis

Cerithiopsis tubercularis. 1.4mm high juvenile with 4 smooth whorls on protoconch. On fine red seaweed growing on stone among muddy sand. Menai Strait, Wales, March 2010.

Species

Photographer / copyright holder

I.F. Smith

Cerithiopsis tubercularis. m: mouth; introverted proboscis. l: yellow opercular lobe. g: grey dorsum of body (and head). Band of yellow spots behind eye. Anterior of foot deeply cleft into “duckbill”. On fine red seaweed. Menai Strait, Wales, Aug. 2010.

Species

Cerithiopsis tubercularis

Photographer / copyright holder

I.F. Smith

Cerithiopsis tubercularis. Foot bends at transverse groove across middle. Eye on thickened base of thin tentacle. On fine red seaweed growing on stone among muddy sand. Menai Strait, Wales, Aug. 2010.

Species

Cerithiopsis tubercularis

Photographer / copyright holder

I.F. Smith

Cerithiopsis tubercularis. No snout. Small respiratory siphon, with reflected bifid tip showing black lining, in siphonal channel of shell. 3 spiral lines on base of shell (grey lines indicate). On fine red seaweed. Menai Strait, Wales, Aug. 2010.

Species

Cerithiopsis tubercularis

Photographer / copyright holder

I.F. Smith

Sole of Cerithiopsis tubercularis; circular opening of posterior pedal gland near centre. On fine red seaweed growing on stone among muddy sand. Menai Strait, Wales, Aug. 2010.

Species

Cerithiopsis tubercularis

Photographer / copyright holder

I.F. Smith

Cerithiopsis tubercularis. Glossy maroon shell. 3 spiral rows of tubercles on each whorl, except 4 smooth apical whorls of protoconch. Base of final whorl lacks tubercles. Small black tipped siphon in siphonal notch. On fine red seaweed. Menai, Aug. 2010.

Species

Cerithiopsis tubercularis

Photographer / copyright holder

I.F. Smith

Cerithiopsis tubercularis. Glossy maroon shell. 3 spiral rows of tubercles on each whorl, except 4 smooth apical whorls of protoconch. Aperture has siphonal notch. On fine red seaweed growing on stone among muddy sand. Menai Strait, Wales, Aug. 2010.

Species

Cerithiopsis tubercularis

Photographer / copyright holder

I.F. Smith

Distribution and status

Norway to Azores and Black Sea (See GBIF map). Not uncommon around Britain and Ireland, except apparently absent from east coasts of Scotland and England.

The map provided here shows the distribution of the species based on Conchological Society data.

Ecology and behaviour

On shores at LWS, and sublittorally to about 100m. Specialist feeder on sponges Hymeniacidon perleve and Halichondria panicea. Long fine proboscis, when everted, inserted through sponge’s osculum, and jaws at tip loosen soft tissue which is raked back along proboscis by radula. Favours sponges on rocks with tufts of red seaweed, such as Lomentaria and Corralina. Shell colour matches that of weeds, among which it climbs with aid of mucus ropes excreted from pedal glands. Also eats epiphytic and epizooic growths on weeds. Egg capsules inserted into sponge. Veliger larvae live in plankton before settling and metamorphosing.

Similar species

Cerithiopsis barleei Jeffreys, 1867

Spire to 7mm, paler, taller and thinner than C. tubercularis.
3 spiral rows of tubercles on whorls.
Base of final whorl lacks tubercles & has no spiral ridges.
Lives sublittorally, not on shore.
Feeds on Suberites domunculus (sponge)

Cerithiopsis metaxa (della Chiaje, 1828)

Very tall, almost straight sided, yellowish or whitish spire to 8mm.
4 spiral ridges, 3 or 4 tuberculated, on penultimate whorl.
Base of final whorl lacks tubercles.
Lives sublittorally, not on shore.

Key identification features

Tall maroon spire to 6.5mm.
3 spiral rows of tubercles on whorls.
Base of final whorl lacks tubercles & has 2 or 3 spiral ridges.
Lives at LWS and sublittorally.
Feeds on Hymeniacidon perleve & Halichondria panicea (sponges)

References and links

Fretter, V. and Graham, A. 1962. British prosobranch molluscs. London, Ray Society.
Graham, A. 1988. Prosobranch and pyramidellid gastropods. London.

Taxon version key

[NBNSYS0000174449]

Sort order

1140

Taxonomic group

Marine snail

Read more about Cerithiopsis tubercularis

More images and detailed account at https://flic.kr/s/aHsjNKPM1L