Eulima


Eulima is a genus of small, ectoparasitic sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Eulimidae.
Eulima is the type genus of the family Eulimidae.

Description

The genus appeared early in the Secondary and became abundant in forms during the Tertiary period.
The shell is in the form of an elongated, towering spiral, which tapers to a fine point. The aperture is ovate and entire with the peristome incomplete behind. The outer lip is thick and even.
"The imperforate shell is subulate, many-whorled, polished, and porcellanous Its spire is usually curved or twisted to one side, bearing on one side only, a series of varices forming ribs internally and marking the position of successive mouths. The apex is acute. The aperture is oval, entire, pointed above, rounded below. The lip is simple and a little thickened. The columellar margin is reflected. The operculum is corneous and pancispiral. Its nucleus is near the inner lip.
The animal shows subulate tentacles, approaching at the base. The eyes are large and nearly sessile. The foot is truncated in front. The foot of Eulima secretes a mucous filament which assists to sustain it in the water. The mentum is bilobed. The opercular lobe is winged on each side. The branchial plume is single."

Species

Species within the genus Eulima include:Eulima acerrima Eulima acicularis Eulima aclis Eulima acutissima Eulima adamsii Eulima agulhasensis Eulima alaskensis Eulima albanyana Eulima albida Eulima almo Eulima amanda Eulima amblia Eulima angulosa Eulima angustior Eulima anonyma, Bouchet & Warén, 1986Eulima arcuata, Deshayes, 1850Eulima atypha Verrill & Bush, 1900Eulima augustoi Nobre, 1937 Eulima australasica Melvill & Standen, 1899Eulima badia Watson, 1897Eulima balteata Eulima barthelowi Eulima bifascialis Eulima bifasciata d'Orbigny, 1841Eulima bilineata Alder, 1848Eulima bipartita Mörch, 1860Eulima bivittata Eulima bizona Eulima breviuscula Dunker, 1875Eulima broadbentae Eulima campyla Watson, 1883 Eulima capillastericola Bartsch, 1909 Eulima carolii Dall, 1889 Eulima chascanon Watson, 1883Eulima chaunax Watson, 1883 Eulima chionea Bouchet & Warén, 1986Eulima chyta Watson, 1883Eulima cinctella Eulima columnaria May, 1916Eulima communis Verkrüzen fide Paetel, 1887 - Eulima compacta Carpenter, 1864Eulima compsa Verrill & Bush, 1900Eulima confusa Bouchet & Warén, 1986Eulima crassiuscula Dunker fide Paetel, 1887 Eulima crossei Eulima cylindrata Watson, 1883 Eulima cylindrica Thiele (zoologist)|Thiele], 1925