Carinaria lamarcki

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Carinaria lamarcki
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropod
Subclass: Orthogastropoda
Superorder: Caenogastropoda
Order: Sorbeoconcha
Suborder: Hypsogastropoda
Infraorder: Littorinimorpha
Superfamily: Carinarioidea
Family: Carinariidae
Genus: Carinaria
Species: C. lamarcki
Binomial name
Carinaria lamarcki
Peron and Lesueur, 1810
Synonyms

Carinaria challengeri Bonnevie, 1920
Carinaria oceanica Vayssière, 1904
Carinaria grimaldi Vayssière, 1903
Carinaria atlantica Adams & Reeve, 1850
Carinaria punctata D'Orbigny, 1836
Carinaria australis Quoy & Gaimard, 1833
Carinaria mediterranea Blainville, 1825

Carinaria lamarcki is a species of minute floating sea snail, a pelagic marine gastropod mollusc in the family Carinariidae.

Contents

[edit] Distribution

Like most pelagic gastropods this species is found worldwide.

[edit] Habitat

This floating sea snail is found in warm seas. It can be found at depths of up to 650 m.

[edit] Anatomy

The animal's body is cylindrical and mainly transparent. Centrally on the animal's back is a small transparent shell, much smaller than the animal, which protects the viscera. There is some brown coloration near the shell.

The head has two black eyes, crowned by two supraorbital antennae, and small protuberances.

The tubular snout has a retractable device for capturing prey.

[edit] Life habits

The animal is a very active, carnivorous predator, and is able to swim fast when this is required. When threatened they usually swim downwards to escape, or remain motionless taking advantage of their transparency.

Because of its pelagic nature, this species is only rarely seen; occasionally it is found washed up on beaches

Length is up to 12.5 mm, width 6 mm, and height 6 mm.

[edit] References