Vasum

Vasum
A live but retracted individual of Vasum rhinoceras in a tide pool in Mombasa, Kenya, Africa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Caenogastropoda
clade Hypsogastropoda
clade Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Muricoidea
Family: Turbinellidae
Subfamily: Vasinae
Genus: Vasum
Type species
Murex ceramicus Linnaeus, 1758
Species

See text

Synonyms[1]
  • Cynodonta Schumacher, 1817
  • Siphovasum Rehder & Abbott, 1951
  • Volutella Perry, 1810

Vasum, common name the vase snails or vase shells, is a genus of mostly rather large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks within the family Turbinellidae. [1]

Shell description

Shells of species in this genus are usually somewhat large, and are usually very thick and heavy. They are often vase-shaped, in the sense that the shell of most of the species is more or less widely conical. The shells have a thick periostracum, a low spires, and 2, 3 or 4 plaits on the columella.

Species

Species within the genus Vasum include:

Species brought into synonymy

References

  1. 1 2 Bouchet, P. (2011). Vasum Röding, 1798. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=205505 on 15 April 2012
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