Linné, 1758

Description (shell):
Shell solid, mature individuals especially robust and heavy; periostracum hispid in juveniles, missing from most of shell in adults. Spire of seven or eight tumid whorls, last whorl large (about 70 % of shell height); sutures deep. Sculpture of strong crescentic costae, spiral striae and prosocline growth lines. Costae do not extend to base of last whorl; 12-15 on penultimate whorl. Spiral striae numerous, major ridges separated by variable number of minor ridges to form a regular pattern; interaction with growth lines produces fine reticulation. A thick spiral keel, the siphonal fasciole, runs from base of shell to umbilical region. Aperture broadly oval, tapering adapically to a point; outer lip describes a high arc to tip of short, siphonal canal. Inner lip reflected over columella and large area of parietal region of last whorl (B. undatum-drawing 2); (B. undatum-with eggs).

Size:
Up to 110 x 68 mm.

Colour:
Buff, with darker bands above and below periphery; throat and peristome white (B. undatum-drawing).

Animal:
Cephalic tentacles long, distal portion slender, eyes at junction with broader basal portion. Siphon extends a long way from canal in active animals. Foot large, shield-shaped, with double-edged anterior margin; females with opening of ventral pedal gland on sole; operculum oval, with central nucleus (B. undatum-animal).

Habitat:
On hard and soft substrata, occasionally at LWST, but usually sublittoral down to 1200 m. Tolerates brackish water to 15ä.

Distribution:
Distributed from Iceland and northern Norway to the Bay of Biscay; common and often abundant (Distr. B. undatum).

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Class Gastropoda
Subclass Prosobranchia
Superorder Caenogastropoda
Order Neogastropoda
Family Buccinidae
Genus Buccinum
Species Buccinum undatum

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Accepted name: Buccinum undatum Linnaeus, 1758

Scientific synonyms and common names

Buccinum undatum Linné, 1758
Buccinum undatum var. caerulea Sars G.O., 1878
Buccinum acuminatum Broderip, 1830
Buccinum undatum var. flexuosa Jeffreys, 1867
Buccinum donovani Sars G.O., 1878 non Buccinum donovani Gray J.E., 1839
Buccinum fragile Sars G.O., 1878
Buccinum pictum Verkrüzen, 1881

Ankel, W.E., 1926. Lamellibranchia. In Grimpe, G. & Wagler, E.: Die Tierwelt der Nord- und Ostsee.

Graham, Alastair F.R.S., 1988. Molluscs: Prosobranch and Pyramidellid Gastropods. Synopses of the British fauna (NS), 2: 1-662.

Hayward, P.J., Wigham, G.D. & N. Yonow, 1990. Mollusca I: Polyplacophora, Scaphopoda, and Gastropoda. In: The Marine Fauna of the British Isles and North-West Europe. (ed. P.J. Hayward & J.S. Ryland). Clarendon Press, Oxford: 628-730.

Jeffreys, J.G., 1869. British conchology. Vol. V -258 pp. Van Voorst, London.

Poppe, G.T. & Y. Goto, 1991. European Seashells. Vol. I. 352 pp. Wiesbaden/Verlag Christa Hemmen.

Seaward, D.R., 1990. Distribution of the marine molluscs of north west Europe. Nature Conservancy Council.

You can continue searching for Buccinum undatum on one of these Web sites:

Fauna Europaea (animals) | IOPI (plants) | NCBI (genetic)

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