Alcithoe arabica
Alcithoe arabica, common name Arabic volute, is a species of very large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Volutidae, the volutes.
Distribution
This species is endemic to New Zealand.Description
Shells of Alcithoe arabica can reach a height of and a width of 88 mm. These shells are usually large, solid, fusiform, with relatively weak tubercles on the shoulder of the body whorl. The shell aperture is high with a thickened, rounded outer lip. The external surface is yellowish-white with chestnut zig-zag markings, forming five bands on the body whorl. These markings were thought to resemble Arabic writing, giving rise to the name of the species.There is no operculum in A. arabica. Individuals have a large grey to brown foot, flecked with purple and orange markings.
Ecology
These sea snails live in subtidal waters on soft sediments. Alcithoe arabica are able to move quite quickly on the soft substrate. They feed on bivalves that they smother using their large foot. The rounded, thin shelled eggs of this species are laid on stones or other shells.Subspecies
Alcithoe arabica jaculoides A. W. B. Powell, 1924 : synonym of Alcithoe jaculoides A. W. B. Powell, 1924Synonyms
Alcithoe arabica Alcithoe swainsoni Marwick, 1926- † Alcithoe acuta Marwick, 1926
- † Alcithoe detrita Marwick, 1926
- † Alcithoe lutea Marwick, 1924 Alcithoe motutarensis A. W. B. Powell, 1928
- † Alcithoe nukumaruensis Alcithoe swainsoni Marwick, 1926Alcithoe motutaraensis Powell A. W. B., 1928
- † Alcithoe transformis Marwick, 1926
- † Fulgoraria arabica Fulgoraraia depressa Suter, 1908Fulgoraria arabica
- † Fulgoraria turrita var. nukumaruensis P. Marshall & Murdoch, 1920 Fulguraria arabica Fulguraria depressa Suter, 1908
- † Fulguraria turrita var. nukumaruensis P. Marshall & Murdoch, 1920 Notovoluta rossiteri Brazier, 1898Notovoluta rossiteri Swainson, 1821Notovoluta rossiteri Perry, 1810Voluta arabica Gmelin, 1791 Voluta elongata Swainson, 1821 Voluta pacifica Perry, 1810 Voluta rossiteri Brazier, 1898