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The Pelican's foot shell


Pelican´s foot shell

Distribution
Distribution in scandinavian waters

Maximum length: 4,5 cm.
Appearance: Adults have a swim foot like outer lip. The shell has a distinct spire and has a cream yellow - white colour with a brown yellow shade. The whitish creature has a reddish trunk. The eyes are placed at the base of the tentacles. The foot, shell opening and lid have an oval form.
Depth: 4-180 m. The Pelican's foot shell normally lives to deep to able to see living examples on the beach, but empty shells, washed up onto the beach can be found.
Environment: Lives dug down in soft bottoms.
Misc: It is believed that mating takes place primarily during the spring. The eggs are placed either individually or in groups of two or three on grains of sand or other particles. After a few weeks, the egg hatches and the larva swims out of the shell. It is believed that the larvae drift with the currents under a notable period of time.
    The outer lip of the shell acts as a protective covering for the head.
Classification: There is one relation of the Pelican foot shell that is found, although quite rare, in Swedish waters. It is found on deep muddy bottoms in Bohuslän on the Swedish west coast. It is recognized by its thin shell, and the more sharper and denser whorls. The raised outer lip of adults has conspicuous points.
    The Pelican´s foot shell belongs to the subclass Prosobranchia (sea-snails) under the class Gastropoda (snails and slugs), which is part of the molluscs.


Pelican's foot shell     Other names


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Bo Johannesson | Martin Larsvik | Lars-Ove Loo | Helena Samuelsson