Admetula deroyae
Admetula deroyae | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
Order: | Neogastropoda |
Family: | Cancellariidae |
Genus: | Admetula |
Species: | A. deroyae
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Binomial name | |
Admetula deroyae (Petit, 1970)
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Synonyms[1] | |
Agatrix deroyae Petit, 1970 |
Admetula deroyae is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cancellariidae, the nutmeg snails.[1]
Admetula deroyae is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk belonging to the family Cancellariidae, commonly known as the nutmeg snails [1]. This species was formally described by R. E. Petit in 1970 [1, 2].
Description
[edit]While a detailed standalone description for Admetula deroyae is not readily available, it shares general characteristics with other species within the genus Admetula. The genus Admetula typically comprises small to medium-sized shells that are elongated, solid, and often feature a clathrate (cancellate or latticed) sculpture, where both axial and spiral ribs are prominent [3]. The family Cancellariidae is also known for having a distinctive radula, which is uniserial (a single row of teeth) and composed of elongated, ribbon-like, tricuspid (three-pointed) teeth [4].
The shell of Admetula deroyae has been described in its original publication (Petit, 1970) [2]. The holotype and paratype specimens are housed in the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) [5].
Distribution
[edit]Admetula deroyae is a marine species found in the Pacific Ocean, specifically off the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador [1, 5].
The type localities for the species are:
- South of Academy Bay, Isla Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador (for the holotype) [5].
- Near Isabela Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador (for a paratype) [5].
This distribution indicates that it is an Eastern Pacific species, inhabiting the waters around the unique Galápagos archipelago.
Habitat and Ecology
[edit]Admetula deroyae is a demersal species, meaning it lives on or near the seabed. The type specimens were collected from depths ranging between 75 and 150 meters [5]. This suggests it inhabits the sublittoral to upper bathyal zones, preferring deeper waters compared to many shallow-water gastropods.
Cancellariidae, the family to which Admetula deroyae belongs, are generally predatory or parasitic gastropods. While specific ecological details for A. deroyae are not widely documented, other species within the family are known to feed on the bodily fluids of other invertebrates, such as polychaete worms, or in some cases, are ectoparasites on fish [6]. Their unique radula morphology is adapted for these specialized feeding strategies.
Taxonomy and Synonyms
[edit]Admetula deroyae is classified within the following taxonomic hierarchy [1]:
- Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Mollusca
- Class: Gastropoda
- Subclass: Caenogastropoda
- Order: Neogastropoda
- Superfamily: Olivoidea (or Volutoidea in older classifications, but Cancellariidae is often placed under Olivoidea or its own superfamily Cancellarioidea)
- Family: Cancellariidae Forbes & Hanley, 1851 (nutmeg snails)
- Genus: Admetula Cossmann, 1889
- Species: Admetula deroyae (Petit, 1970)
The original binomial name for this species was Agatrix deroyae Petit, 1970 [1, 2]. This indicates that the species was initially described under the genus Agatrix and was later reclassified into the genus Admetula.
Synonyms for Admetula deroyae include [1]:
- Agatrix deroyae Petit, 1970 (original combination)
The reclassification of Agatrix deroyae to Admetula deroyae reflects ongoing taxonomic revisions within the Cancellariidae family, which are based on detailed morphological comparisons and, increasingly, molecular phylogenetic studies.
References
[edit]- ^ a b Admetula deroyae (Petit, 1970). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 6 April 2010.
- [1] Admetula deroyae - Wikipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved May 30, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admetula_deroyae
- [2] Petit, R.E. (1970). Notes on Cancellariidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda)— II. Tulane Studies in Geology and Paleontology. 8(2): 83-88, pl. 1.
- [3] Admetula - Wikipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved May 30, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admetula
- [4] Zootaxa, Cancellarioidea (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia) - Smithsonian Institution. (n.d.). Retrieved May 30, 2025, from https://repository.si.edu/bitstream/handle/10088/7508/IZ_Petit_Harasewych_2005.pdf
- [5] CATALOG OF RECENT TYPE SPECIMENS IN THE DIVISION OF INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY, AMERICAN - BioOne Complete. (n.d.). Retrieved May 30, 2025, from https://bioone.org/journalArticle/Download?fullDOI=10.1206%2F0003-0090(2001)262%3C0001%3ACORTSI%3E2.0.CO%3B2
- [6] Feeding Biology of Cancellariidae - ResearchGate. (n.d.). Retrieved May 30, 2025, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232675953_Feeding_Biology_of_Cancellariidae
- Petit R.E. (1970). Notes on Cancellariidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda)— II. Tulane Studies in Geology and Paleontology. 8(2): 83-88, pl. 1.
- Hemmen, J. (2007). Recent Cancellariidae. Annotated and illustrated catalogue of Recent Cancellariidae. Privately published, Wiesbaden. 428 pp
External links
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