Chicomurex cf venustulus (Rehder & Wilson, 1975)
51mm
Chicomurex
venustulus is
rare in the Marshalls, at least at scuba depths. We have not seen a living specimen,
but have found empty shells, usually with a hold drilled in the spire, in rubble
piles rather deep on the seaward reef dropoff. It is probably not rare at the
right depth and habitat. On one occasion, we found a pile of 17 empty shells,
and on another dive, 7 empty shells in a single pile. It appears that something
out there collects these shells, punches a small hole in the spire, and eats
out the animal. Although we have not caught anyone in the act, it is well known
that some octopus will prey upon snails, drilling small holes in the shell and
injecting a venom that paralyzes or kills the snail, allowing the octopus to
pull it out the aperture. The photos below show a couple of the empty but still
fresh shells found on one dive. The shells are highly variable in color. They
resemble figures we have seen of Chicomurex venustulus, but ours are
differs in having smoother intervarical sculpturing and a shorter, more squat
shape.
Created 1 October 2010
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