Photo of the day (91): spoons made of Turbo marmoratus

I have taken these photos of spoons and cutlery in a shop in Hội An, Central Vietnam.These spoons are made of some gastropod shells, most probably of green turban Turbo marmoratus. With the shell length up to 20 cm (or up to 25 cm) it is the largest species of the family Turbinidae. It’s distribution is Indo-Pacific. As of 1974 it has been listed as a “common” species. The shell is commercially important as a source of nacre (mother of pearl) and it is the most important commercial species of Turbinidae in the tropical Indo-West Pacific. It is intensively harvested and exploited in some countries. Many of its populations has been reduced.

References

Dance S. P. (ed.) (1974). The Encyclopedia of Shells. Blanford Press, ISBN 0713706988, pages 52-53.

Dwiono S.A.P., Pradina & Makatipu P.C. (2001) Dwiono, S., & Pradina, M. P. (2001). Spawning and seed production of the green snail (Turbo marmoratus L.) in Indonesia. SPC Trochus Information Bulletin# 7. Poka–Ambon, Indonesia, 7.

Turbo marmoratus Linnaeus, 1758. https://www.sealifebase.ca/summary/Turbo-marmoratus.html accessed August 15, 2019.

Advertisement

Photo of the day (53): Bolma rugosa

Bolma rugosa is a marine snail in the family Turbinidae. It is quite a big snail with a shell length up to 70 mm. Locality of my snail is Croatia. I have taken the following photos ex situ in the aquarium.

Those pointed structures bellow the shell are sensory structures, that are called epipodial tentacles. They are common structures in Vetigastropoda (one of main groups of gastropods).

Detail of epipodial tentacles:

Foot view of Bolma rugosa:

Few other photos by other authors also shows epipodial tentacles on Bolma rugosa:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/o_torrents/5880559472/ at the top right corner of the photo.

or on the Circolo Attività Subacquee Chieri (Diving Club in Chieri, Italy) website at http://www.casc.it/VisPhotogallery.asp?Page=0&P=1&S=3051&F=1805&D=Bolma%20rugosa%2004.jpg

References

Wanichanon C., Laimek P., Chitchulanon N., Suphamungmee W., Apisawetakan S., Linthong V., Sretarugsa P., Kruatrachue M., Upatham E. S., Poomtong T. & Sobhon P. (2004). Sensory receptors on cephalic and epipodial tentacles of Haliotis asinina Linnaeus. Journal of Shellfish Research, 23(4): 1097-1106.