Epitonium (Globiscala) bullatum ( Sowerby, 1844:27 )

Lam, Katherine, Morton, Brian & Leung, K. F., 2008, Shell-bearing Mollusca (Bivalvia and Gastropoda) from submarine caves in Hong Kong, Journal of Natural History 42 (9 - 12), pp. 927-952 : 941-942

Epitonium (Globiscala) bullatum ( Sowerby, 1844:27)

( Figure 5A, B )

Description

Shell thin, white and fragile. Body whorl large. Narrow axial rib. Wide and smooth interspaces of axial ribs. Growth lines moderately spaced. The specimen collected

during this cave expedition had several living sea anemone Calliactis xishaensis ( Pei 1996) attached to and covering (camouflaging) its shell.

Type locality

‘‘ Island of Capul , Philippines, taken on the coral reefs’ ’.

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific, Red Sea, East Africa, New Guinea, Australia. Intertidal to 20 m deep, under rocks or associated with corals.

Figures

Figure 5. A, Epitonium bullatum, height×width52.7×1.9 mm. B, living specimen of the same shell. Note the sea anemones on the shell.