Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Mollusca
- Class: Gastropoda
- Subclass: Caenogastropoda
- Order: Neogastropoda
- Superfamily: Turbinelloidea
- Family: Costellariidae (ribbed miters)
- Genus: Vexillum
- Species: Vexillum caffrum
The binomial name Vexillum caffrum was originally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 as Voluta caffra. Subsequent synonyms include Mitra zonalis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833) and Vexillum (Vexillum) caffrum.
Description
Vexillum caffrum is a marine gastropod mollusk characterized by a fusiform shell that ranges in length from 35 mm to 51 mm. The shell possesses a high spire with an adpressed suture and displays numerous axial riblets that become less pronounced on the middle of the body whorl. The outer lip is lirate, slightly concave, and inverted; its interior edge is dark brown. The columella bears four distinct plaits. The short siphonal canal is open and modestly recurved. Shell coloration is typically dark chocolate brown with two or three yellow spiral zones, the uppermost of which may be visible on the spire.
Distribution and Habitat
This species occurs in the tropical Pacific Ocean, ranging from Indonesia to Polynesia and extending to the waters off Queensland, Australia. It inhabits marine environments, often found at depths of 5 – 20 m, where it resides on or near sandy and coral substrates.
Ecology
As a member of the family Costellariidae, V. caffrum is a predatory sea snail. Specific details of its feeding habits and life cycle are not extensively documented in the available literature.
References
- Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae (10th ed.).
- World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). Vexillum caffrum (Linnaeus, 1758).
- Wikipedia contributors. “Vexillum caffrum.” Retrieved via mirrored source.