Lambis truncata

{{Short description|Species of gastropod}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Lambis_truncata_01.JPG

| image_caption = Five views of a shell of Lambis truncata

| image2 = Caracola (Lambis truncata), islas Ad Dimaniyat, Omán, 2024-08-15, DD 90.jpg

| image2_caption = Lambis truncata in Ad Dimaniyat Islands, Oman

| genus = Lambis

| species = truncata

| authority = (Humphrey, 1786)

| synonyms_ref =

| synonyms = *Lambis bryonia Gmelin, 1791

}}

Lambis truncata, common name the giant spider conch, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.{{WRMS species|211091|Lambis truncata (Humphrey, 1786)|||WoRMS (2009). Lambis truncata (Humphrey, 1786). Accessed through the World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=211091 on 27 June 2010}}

Subspecies

Image:Lambis truncata truncata 37.jpg

Image:Lambis truncata sebae 28a.jpg

Subspecies of Lambis truncata include:

  • Lambis truncata truncata (Humphrey, 1786)
  • Lambis truncata sebae (Kiener, 1843)

Lambis truncata truncata has a flat apex, while the apex of Lambis truncata sebae is more pointed.

Description

Image:Lambis truncata Kiener1843.jpg

Lambis truncata is the largest and heaviest of spider shells, up to 40 cm. Lambis truncata is similar to Lambis lambis but with a more squarish outline. Younger shells are creamy white; columella and lip usually mauve brown when older.

Distribution

The distribution of Lambis truncata includes the Indian Ocean off Aldabra, Chagos, Madagascar, Mauritius, Tanzania; the Bay of Bengal and in the Pacific Ocean along the Philippines.

Ecology

Lambis truncata lives on rubble and coarse sand in shallow water.

References

This article incorporates CC-BY-SA-3.0 text from the reference.

{{Reflist}}

  • Dautzenberg, Ph. (1929). Mollusques testacés marins de Madagascar. Faune des Colonies Francaises, Tome III
  • Spry, J.F. (1961). The sea shells of Dar es Salaam: Gastropods. Tanganyika Notes and Records 56
  • Walls, J.G. (1980). Conchs, tibias and harps. A survey of the molluscan families Strombidae and Harpidae. T.F.H. Publications Ltd, Hong Kong