Superfamily Eulimoidea | Rank Genus | |
 | ||
Similar Melanella, Eulimidae, Vitreolina, Eulima glabra, Turbonilla | ||
Eulima is a genus of small, ectoparasitic sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Eulimidae.
Contents
Eulima is the type genus of the family Eulimidae.
Description
The genus appeared early in the Secondary and became abundant in forms during the Tertiary period.
The shell is in the form of an elongated, towering spiral, which tapers to a fine point. The aperture is ovate and entire with the peristome incomplete behind. The outer lip is thick and even.
"The imperforate shell is subulate, many-whorled, polished, and porcellanous Its spire is usually curved or twisted to one side, bearing on one side only, a series of varices forming ribs internally and marking the position of successive mouths. The apex is acute. The aperture is oval, entire, pointed above, rounded below. The lip is simple and a little thickened. The columellar margin is reflected. The operculum is corneous and pancispiral. Its nucleus is near the inner lip.
The animal shows subulate tentacles, approaching at the base,.The eyes are large and nearly sessile. The foot is truncated in front. The foot of Eulima secretes a mucous filament which assists to sustain it in the water. The mentum is bilobed. The opercular lobe is winged on each side. The branchial plume is single."
Species
Species within the genus Eulima include: