Scutus

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Scutus
Scutus breviculus shell
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Archaeogastropoda
Family: Fissurellidae
Genus: Scutus
Blainville, 1817
Species

See text.

Scutus is a genus of large sea snail or limpets with the common name "shield shells". These are marine gastropod molluscs in the family Fissurellidae, the keyhole limpets and slit limpets.

Both the common name and the Latin name reflect the fact that the shells resemble a Roman shield.

[edit] Description

The shell is oblong and shield-like. It has a notch, or an internal groove, to allow a more direct exit of exhalant water currents from the mantle cavity. Unlike many other genera in the family Fissurellidae, the shell has no anal fasciole, slit or perforation.

The animal is a large black slug, many times larger than the shell. It has large blunt tentacles, with eyes at their outer bases.

[edit] Species

  • Scutus anatinus
  • Scutus antipodes
  • Scutus breviculus Blainville, 1817
  • Scutus corrugatus
  • Scutus elongatus
  • Scutus granulatus
  • Scutus howensis
  • Scutus oblunguis
  • Scutus parunguis
  • Scutus rueppelli
  • Scutus scapha
  • Scutus sinensis
  • Scutus unguis
  • Scutus virgo
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