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Onustus caribaeus
Species of gastropod From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Onustus caribaeus is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Xenophoridae, the carrier shells.[1]
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Description
The anatomy of O. Caribaeus. is very similar to all members of the Xenophoridae family. Their shells have a flat bottom and a short conical spiral on top.[2] They are known for their ability to camouflage by attaching substrates like pebbles, sand, empty shells, and even coral to the top of their shells.[3] The specifics of how this is done are not known.[4] However, we know that these foreign objects are fused to the shells in all different conformations, radially, laterally, or symmetrically as the shell grows.[5] The shells can reach a maximum height of 45 mm, in average 37 mm. The diameter of the base reaches a maximum length of 88 mm, in average 60 mm. The colour of the dorsum is yellowish-white.[6] Like other snails, O. Caribaeus have a radula, used for scraping detritus and other substances off of substrates to feed on, and a muscular foot used for locomotion.[7]
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Distribution
Onustus caribaeus is distributed in the North-eastern Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea and along the Atlantic coast of Brazil between 35m and 640m (mostly deeper than 100m).[6]
References
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