MarLIN

information on the biology of species and the ecology of habitats found around the coasts and seas of the British Isles

A gastropod (Cerithiopsis tubercularis)

Distribution data supplied by the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS). To interrogate UK data visit the NBN Atlas.

Summary

Description

A slender shell to 7 mm long with up to 14 flat-sided whorls. Aperture oval, with thin, crenulate outer lip and a short, broad siphonal canal. Shell chestnut-brown, tapering to a point only in the region of the first 2 whorls. Tubercles pale brown. Head bears a pair of long, linear tentacles, covered around the distal half with bristle-like cilia.

Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland

On south-west coasts of Britain and occasionally recorded off the west coast of Scotland.

Global distribution

From Norway to the Mediterranean and the Azores but absent from the southern North Sea.

Habitat

Found in pools, on sponges such as Halichondria (Halichondria) panicea and Hymeniacidon perleve, particularly where associated with coralline algae. Also found on the sheltered sponge-covered slopes and crevices of rocks and under boulders. From the lower shore to 100 m.

Depth range

-

Identifying features

  • Each whorl with 3 spiral rows of close set, rounded elevations (tubercles).
  • Base of last whorl also with 2-3 spiral ridges.
  • Tubercles near outer lip elongated axially.
  • Small aperture with basal siphonal notch.

Additional information

Occurrence in Britain may be increased by seawater warming.

Listed by

- none -

Further information sources

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Bibliography

  1. Fretter, V., 1951. Observations on the life history and functional morphology of Cerithiopsis tubercularis (Montagu) and Triphora perversa (L.). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 29, 567-586.

  2. Graham, A., 1971. British Prosobranchs. London: Academic Press.[Synopses of the British Fauna, no. 2.]

  3. Graham, A., 1988. Molluscs: prosobranchs and pyramellid gastropods (2nd ed.). Leiden: E.J. Brill/Dr W. Backhuys. [Synopses of the British Fauna No. 2]

  4. Hayward, P., Nelson-Smith, T. & Shields, C. 1996. Collins pocket guide. Sea shore of Britain and northern Europe. London: HarperCollins.

  5. Hayward, P.J. & Ryland, J.S. (ed.) 1995b. Handbook of the marine fauna of North-West Europe. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

  6. Hiscock, K., Southward, A., Tittley, I., Jory, A. & Hawkins, S., 2001. The impact of climate change on subtidal and intertidal benthic species in Scotland. Scottish National Heritage Research, Survey and Monitoring Report , no. 182., Edinburgh: Scottish National Heritage

  7. Howson, C.M. & Picton, B.E., 1997. The species directory of the marine fauna and flora of the British Isles and surrounding seas. Belfast: Ulster Museum. [Ulster Museum publication, no. 276.]

  8. McMillan, N.F., 1968. British Shells. London: Frederick Warne & Co Ltd.

  9. National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas website. Available from: http://www.nbnatlas.org.  Accessed 01 April 2017

Citation

This review can be cited as:

Skewes, M. 2007. Cerithiopsis tubercularis A gastropod. In Tyler-Walters H. and Hiscock K. (eds) Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Reviews, [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 22-09-2018]. Available from: https://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/1646

Last Updated: 08/06/2007