Kingdom Animalia Higher classification Ocenebra | Superfamily Muricoidea Genus Ocenebra Rank Species | |
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Similar Ocenebra, Gastropods, Molluscs, Muricidae, Acteon tornatilis | ||
Ocenebra erinaceus, common name the European sting winkle, is a species of predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex and rock snails. Also known as the Oyster Drill, it is a pest in Oyster beds.
Contents
The name Ocenebra erinaceus is the accepted name according to the database World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), and the name is also accepted as valid by the ICZN (Op. 886)
Description
The size of the shell varies between 8 mm and 65 mm. The shell has four to seven varicose, nodulous, encircled by prominent cord-like, raised ribs. These are alternately smaller, the smaller ones minutely scabrous. The varices are sometimes frondose, sometimes lamellated, occasionally appressed. Occasionally the larger revolving ribs thickly overlap the varices, forming a succession of elongated nodules The color of the shell is yellowish-brown and whitish within.
Distribution
This marine species occurs in European waters from Norway to the Black Sea; in the Atlantic Ocean off the Azores and Madeira
