Gastropoda |
Neomphalida |
Peltospiridae
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Bathydemersal; depth range 2415 - 2785 m (Ref. 127001). Subtropical
Western Indian Ocean. Mauritius (Ref 127040).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
This species has a unique characteristics among gastropods, it carries hundreds of dermal sclerites on its foot. Sclerites: curved, elongate, proteinaceous, not calcified; ca. 1x 5 mm in size in adults; white to mettalic black depending on extent of iron sulphide coating; newly grown sclerites milky white. Ferrimagnetic when coated with iron sulphide layer. Shell: three whorls, globose with depressed spire, tighly coiled. Aperture elliptic, very large. Operculum: present in metapodium buried under layers of sclerites; multispiral, concentric in juveniles while curved, bent shape in adults.
Populations are found in hydrothermal vents several miles below the ocean surrounded with toxic chemicals and high temperatures reaching more than 300 deg C (Ref. 127038). Food is provided by bacteria that grow inside a special pouch in the snail's throat by converting the chemicals in the vents into energy (Ref. 127038). A deep-sea hydrothermal vent species, found on active black smokers as well as on diffuse flow sites (Ref. 127001).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Chen, C., K. Linse, J.T. Copley and A.D. Rogers. 2015. (Ref. 127001)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
CITES status (Ref. 108899)
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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More information
Age/SizeGrowthLength-weightLength-lengthMorphologyLarvaeAbundance
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
