Oxymeris fatua is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Terebridae, the auger snails.
Description
External Shell and Structure The height of the adult shell varies between 30 mm and 81 mm.
The original description by Hinds describes the shell as having a white, smooth, polished exterior with subplanulate recesses. The upper recesses are described as being surrounded by an impressed line. The shell is stated to be decorated with distant dark spots.Zoological Society of London. & Zoological Society of London. (1833). Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London (Issue 11, p. 150). Academic Press, [etc.]. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/30680128
Modern specimen photos show the shell as having an elongate conical, orthoconoid spire. The body whorl is rounded. The whorls of the teleoconch are very slightly convex towards the body whorl and are progressively more straight sided as the whorls progress in the adapical (towards the apex) direction. The whorls have an axial structure of radiating impressed lines, as well as a spiral sculpture of one consistent impressed band near to the top of each whorl. The shell itself is glossy and polished, solidly colored ranging from cream white to light pink. The shell has an ovulate aperture.
Live Snail O. fatua has lens eyes.
Distribution and Habitat This species occurs in and is endemic to the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the islands of Cape Verde. O. fatua is a marine benthic snail that resides in waters less than 15 meters below the surface.Società italiana di malacologia. & Unione malacologica italiana. (1980). Bollettino malacologico (Vol. 18, p. 194). Unione malacologica italiana. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/49946792 Species in Terebridae prefer sandy or muddy habitats that they bury themselves in.
Life Habits
Diet This species, like others in Oxymeris, is a carnivorous predator. Species in Terebridae typically have a diet primarily consisting of polychaete worms.
Reproduction O. fatua reproduces sexually, is gonochorous, and is a non-broadcast spawner.Ruppert, E.E., R.S. Fox and R.D. Barnes 2004 Invertebrate Zoology. A functional evolutionary approach. 7th Ed. Brooks/Cole, Thomson Learning learning, Inc. 990 p.
Locomotion O. fatua moves by mucus mediated gliding.
References
Bratcher T. & Cernohorsky W.O. (1987). Living terebras of the world. A monograph of the recent Terebridae of the world. American Malacologists, Melbourne, Florida & Burlington, Massachusetts. 240pp Terryn Y. (2007). Terebridae: A Collectors Guide. Conchbooks & NaturalArt. 59pp + plates
External links