Family Trochidae

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 1:43 pm

Family Trochidae

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 1:46 pm

This is a large family of some quite familiar species of shells around our islands.
Some photographs below.

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 1:47 pm

A common species found around our coasts in shallow waters, commonly found beached after bad weather. Size usually less than 10mm in size.
Below were found beached at Birzebbugia in March 2010.

Post by **MWP admin** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 8:46 pm

Thanks, cute shape and patterns. As I understand, these are marine snails hux?

Thanks for posting

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 10:05 pm

yes they are. slowly slowly will post more and more species of the family.
cheers

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 2:21 pm

Some better photographs of Jujubinus striatus (Linnaeus, 1758), of a specimen found beached at Gnejna bay in February 2002. Size of around 5mm, these are the best photographs I could take![/i]

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 10:10 am

Another common species around the Maltese Islands found in shallow waters among Posidonia and often found beached in large numbers on shores after storms. This is Jujubinus exasperatus (Pennant, 1777). Specimen below were found beached at Gnejna in February 2002. Size 11mm

Sometimes it is difficult to differentiate this species from Jujubinus striatus. In Exasperatus the basal cord is more marked, and there are usually 4 spiral cords in each segment (in Striatus there are usually a larger number: 6-10). Besides the species grows to larger sizes.

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 9:54 am

There are other Jujubinus species around the Maltese Islands, but I still have not encountered with any of them.

Post by **MWP admin** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 11:28 am

Thanks for the info. For me thay are pretty all the same ! (like Ophrys spp. are for many !)

Keep it up for including mollusca species on the maltafauna.com website.

btw. If they do not have Maltese name, leave the field blank (instead the species name) so automaticaly, it becomes 'no Maltese name' , unless it is common practice to use the species name as Maltese name in the Mollusca world.

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 4:01 pm

ok gbin
usually we do not use neither english nor maltese names - just scientific. cheers

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 3:23 pm

another common species from shallow bays - Clanculus jussieui. It is a small species reaching a maximum of 13mm in size. The genus Clanculus is distinguished by the fact that they have a toothed columella.
Clanculus jussieui is distinguished from other members of the genus as it has a smooth shell which lacks any ornamentation.
Specimens below were found beached at Gnejna Bay in February 2002.

Post by **MWP admin** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 6:56 pm

Hi Pine, I shall work on the mollusca input right after this post.

Just to let you know that you can also add your name in the photos - but as you wish.

Photo: Owen Mifsud
www.MaltaFauna.com

PS: did you see this:
http://maltawildplants.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1810

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:33 pm

Another frequent species found in shallow waters under stones and often found beached.

Post by **MWP admin** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:37 pm

Ara how nice! Is that dull-bluish marking part of the colour of the shell or an artifact?

PS, I had a mollusc for ID on the forum, did you notice it ?

Tomorrow tinsiex...

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:29 am

the bluish is normal, the artefact is the brownish around (its soil!)

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:35 am

sent an sms today. cheers

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:36 am

just bought a microscope, should be able to take photographs of tiny shells now.

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:21 pm

Just started the genus Gibbula.
The first species is the very common Gibbula varia. As it's name implies it is very variable in colouration which vaires from dirty white to reddish-brown. It is a flattish species with a deep and wide umbilicus. Sculpture is limited to concentric (circular) cords.

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 6:15 pm

Another common and widespread species, the larger Gibbula ardens which can reach up to 15mm in size.
Differs from Gibbula umbilicaris in having a large aperture and a columellar fold. From other Gibbula species in having a deep channelled suture and the columellar fold.

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 10:42 pm

Another common species found beached on many coasts. Differs from Gibbula ardens, by having a narrow aperture and being more flattened in aspect.

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 10:43 pm

quite a complex and common family

Post by **MWP admin** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 8:05 am

Getting more interesting.... credit good!

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Mon Dec 26, 2011 11:30 pm

A rare species around our shores reaching mostly up to 6mm in size. Has characteristic structure with 4 strong concentric cords with fine oblique lamellae between cords. My only specimen of around 3mm was found beached at Pretty Bay.

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Fri Feb 03, 2012 11:21 pm

Another rare species which is however quite frequent at Gnejna Bay. My specimens were found beached there. This species has 3-4 rather strong concentric cords on the last whorl that are characteristic. Reaches up to 11mm in size.

Post by **MWP admin** » Fri Feb 03, 2012 11:48 pm

Wiehed isbah mill-iehor - prosit u thanks

MaltaWildplants.com FORUM

Family Trochidae

Family Trochidae

Jujubinus striatus

Jujubinus striatus

Jujubinus exasperatus

Clanculus jussieui (Payraudeau, 1826)

Clanculus cruciatus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Gibbula varia

Gibbula ardens (von Salis, 1793)

Gibbula umbilicaris (Linnaeus, 1758)

Gibbula guttadauri (Philippi, 1836)

Gibbula philberti (Recluz, 1843)