Antalis vulgaris
{{short description|Species of mollusc}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Antalis_vulgaris.jpg
|genus = Antalis
|species = vulgaris
|authority = (da Costa, 1778)
|synonyms = Dentalium vulgare (da Costa, 1778)
}}
Antalis vulgaris, commonly known as the common tusk shell, is a species of scaphopods mainly encountered on sandy bottoms from 5 to 1000 meters depth.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sealifebase.ca/summary/Antalis-vulgaris.html|title=Antalis vulgaris, tusk shell|website=www.sealifebase.ca|access-date=2019-02-25}}
Description
Antalis vulgaris is a small mollusc of 3 to 6 cm length with a characteristic elephant tusk shape. Its shell is opaque white and displays closely spaced longitudinal striations on the posterior portion. The anterior aperture (thinnest end) is circular and is occluded by a septum with a central pipe bearing a circular orifice.{{Cite book|title=Handbook of the Marine fauna in North-West Europe|author=Hayward, P. J.|author2=Ryland, J. S.|date=2017|publisher=Oxford University Press (GBP)|isbn=9780199549443|oclc=962330493}}
Distribution
The common tusk shell is found from south-western United Kingdom to western Mediterranean.{{Cite web|url=http://doris.ffessm.fr/Especes/Antalis-vulgaris-Dentale-375/(rOffset)/19|title=Antalis vulgaris {{!}} DORIS|website=doris.ffessm.fr|access-date=2019-02-26}}
= Diet =
The species stands vertically in soft grounds and search the sand with specific adhesive tentacles (captacula) for small benthic species such as foraminifera.{{Cite book|title=Guide des coquillages de France Atlantique et Manche|last=Audibert|first=Cédric|last2=Delemarre|first2=Jean-Louis|publisher=Belin|year=2009|isbn=9782701146713|location=Paris|oclc=690331649}}
= Reproduction =
Separated sexes. The fecundation is external and gives rise to planktonic larvae called trochophore.
Similar species
- Antalis entalis (Linnaeus, 1758) is smaller (4cm), has a pyriform-shaped anterior orifice and has no longitudinal striations.
- Fustiaria rubescens (Deshayes, 1825) is smaller (3.5cm) and has a pink coloration.
- Ditrupa arietina (O. F. Müller, 1776) is an annelid belonging to the polychaete class and living in a calcified conical tube.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q3800492}}
Category:Gastropods described in 1778
Category:Taxa named by Emanuel Mendes da Costa
{{Scaphopod-stub}}