Kingdom Animalia Class Gastropoda Family Xenophoridae Scientific name Xenophora crispa | Phylum Mollusca Superfamily Xenophoroidea Genus Xenophora Rank Species | |
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Similar Tectonatica sagraiana, Xenophora, Bivetiella cancellata, Panopea glycimeris, Buccinum humphreysianum | ||
Xenophora crispa, the Mediterranean Carrier Shell, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Xenophoridae, the carrier shells.
Contents
Fossil record
Fossils of Xenophora crispa are found in marine strata of Pliocene of Italy and Spain (age range: from 3.6 to 2.588 million years ago.).
Description
Shells of Xenophora crispa can reach a size of 30–63 millimetres (1.2–2.5 in). They are trochoid, depressed-conical shells, non-porcellanous ventrally, with narrow peripheral edge and 7-8 whorls decorated with irregular spirals wrinkles. The base is slightly concave. Foreign objects are usually attached to all whorls of these shells, usually mollusk shells, pebbles, or small pieces of coral rock. The Mediterranean Carrier Shell uses these fragments for camouflage and to strengthen its rather fragile shell.
Distribution
This marine species is present in the Mediterranean Sea and off West Africa to Angola.