Mancinella armigera is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod, in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.MolluscaBase (2018). Mancinella armigera Link, 1807. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=396999 on 2019-01-06Claremont M., Vermeij G.J., Williams S.T. & Reid D.G. (2013) Global phylogeny and new classification of the Rapaninae (Gastropoda: Muricidae), dominant molluscan predators on tropical rocky seashores. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 66: 91–102. [Published online 28 September 2012; Code-compliant paper version published January 2013] The species name means “bearing arms”.
Description
These large drupes have thick, spindle shaped shells covered by blunt tubercles, the aperture is yellowish brown. But they are harmless to humans. The shell is biconic, spire projecting and massive with two rows of projecting noodles on the last whorl, white in color with a yellow aperture. The spire is projecting and acuminate, the suture is shallow. There are eight axial ribs with two rows of prominent tubercles encircling the last whorl and a single spiral of tubercles on the other whorls, as well as a spiral sculpture of fine striae. The aperture is ovate, the outer lips slightly thickened, with six denticles and a columella with a single absolute plait and a moderately developed siphonal fasciole. The shell is often covered with a thick calcareous deposit. The size of an adult shell varies between 50mm and 105.5mm. The shells are typically covered with a pink coralline algae.
Biology This species is a non broadcast spawner. Life cycle does not include trochophore stage.
Distribution This species is distributed in the Indian Ocean along Chagos, the Aldabra Atoll and Tanzania; in the Pacific Ocean along Japan.
Habitat These gastropods occur at the outer edge of fringing reefs and subtitle lava shoulders exposed to heavy wave action. They are common along some exposed rocky coasts at depths of 10–40 ft and they often occur in pairs.
Human uses Collected for food by coastal populations.
References
Spry, J.F. (1961). The sea shells of Dar es Salaam: Gastropods. Tanganyika Notes and Records 56
External links Link, D.H.F. (1807-1808). Beschreibung der Naturalien-Sammlung der Universität zu Rostock. Adlers Erben Reeve, L. A. (1846). Monograph of the genus Purpura. In: Conchologia iconica, or, illustrations of the shells of molluscous animals, Vol. 3. L. Reeve & Co., London. Pls. 1-13 and unpaginated text