Antalis vulgaris

Antalis vulgaris
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Scaphopoda
Order:	Dentaliida
Family:	Dentaliidae
Genus:	Antalis
Species:	A. vulgaris
Binomial name
Antalis vulgaris (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.[1]

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.[2]

Distribution

The common tusk shell is found from south-western United Kingdom to western Mediterranean.[3]

Diet

The species stands vertically in soft grounds and search the sand with specific adhesive tentacles (captacula) for small benthic species such as foraminifera.[3][4]

Reproduction

Separated sexes. The fecundation is external and gives rise to planktonic larvae called trochophore.[3]

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.[3]

References

1. "Antalis vulgaris, tusk shell". www.sealifebase.ca. Retrieved 2019-02-25.
2. Hayward, P. J.; Ryland, J. S. (2017). Handbook of the Marine fauna in North-West Europe. Oxford University Press (GBP). ISBN 9780199549443. OCLC 962330493.
3. "Antalis vulgaris | DORIS". doris.ffessm.fr. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
4. Audibert, Cédric; Delemarre, Jean-Louis (2009). Guide des coquillages de France Atlantique et Manche. Paris: Belin. ISBN 9782701146713. OCLC 690331649.