Ericusa is a small taxonomic genus of medium-sized predatory marine gastropod molluscs in the family Volutidae, the volutes.Bail, P. (2010). Ericusa. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=382335 on 2010-12-15"Australian marine shells 2" Wilson B, Odyssey Publishing, Kallaroo, Western Australia 1994
Distribution Ericusa are endemic to Australia. They are found in temperate waters from southern Queensland to southern Western Australia.
Shell description The shells of Ericusa have a small rounded protoconch, are biconical with a rounded shoulder and have an elongate aperture with 4 distinct columellar plicae and a thickened outer lip. The whorls are regular, smooth and convex. The protoconch is globose and deviates 45° from the axis of the shell. The colour pattern of Ericusa is pink or yellow brown overlaid with a varied brown pattern.
The largest species with shells exceeding 200 mm in length are Ericusa fulgetrum and Ericusa sowerbyi.
Biology Ericusa are nocturnal and prey on invertebrates. They have a large foot and siphon and they lay relatively large solitary eggs."Shells Alive" Coleman N., Rigby, 1981.
Taxonomy Several infraspecific taxa of Ericusa fulgetra have been named, on the basis of colour patterns of the shell.
Species † Ericusa allporti (R. M. Johnston, 1880) † Ericusa ancilloides (Tate, 1889) † Ericusa atkinsoni (Pritchard, 1896) † Ericusa fulgetroides (Pritchard, 1898) Ericusa fulgetrum (G.B. Sowerby I, 1825) Ericusa hamiltonensis (Pritchard, 1898) Ericusa ianmattiskei Hallan, 2023 † Ericusa macroptera (McCoy, 1866) Ericusa naniforma Bail & Limpus, 2013 † Ericusa ngayawang A. M. Yates, 2022 Ericusa papillosa (Swainson, 1822) Ericusa sericata Thornley, 1951 Ericusa sowerbyi (Kiener, 1839) † Ericusa subtilis (Ludbrook, 1978)
References
Bail, P & Poppe, G. T. 2001. A conchological iconography: a taxonomic introduction of the recent Volutidae. Hackenheim-Conchbook, 30 pp, 5 pl.
External links . Gastropods.com : Ericusa; accessed : 15 December 2010]