Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Mollusca
- Class: Gastropoda
- Clade: Vetigastropoda
- Superfamily: Fissurelloidea
- Family: Fissurellidae (keyhole limpets)
- Genus: Zeidora
- Species: Zeidora bigelowi
- Authority: McLean, 1970
Description
Zeidora bigelowi is a marine gastropod mollusk belonging to the family Fissurellidae, a group commonly referred to as keyhole or slit limpets. Members of the genus Zeidora are characterized by a small, cap‑shaped shell with a marginal slit or foramen that functions as an exhalant water channel. Specific morphological details for Z. bigelowi (e.g., shell size, coloration, sculpture) are not extensively documented in widely accessible sources; the original description provides the diagnostic characters distinguishing it from congeners.
Distribution and Habitat
The precise geographic range of Z. bigelowi is not broadly reported in general reference works. The species was originally described from specimens collected during marine surveys in the eastern Pacific region, suggesting a distribution that may include coastal or offshore waters of that area. Detailed locality records, depth range, and habitat preferences (e.g., substrate type) are not comprehensively available in publicly indexed databases.
Ecology
As a fissurellid, Z. bigelowi is presumed to be a grazer that feeds on microalgae and biofilm on hard substrates, similar to other keyhole limpets. Specific ecological studies on this species have not been published, and therefore its role in the marine ecosystem, reproductive biology, and life‑history traits remain undocumented.
Conservation Status
No assessment of the conservation status of Zeidora bigelowi has been made by major organizations such as the IUCN. Consequently, its vulnerability to threats (e.g., habitat degradation, climate change) is not currently evaluated.
References
- McLean, J.H. (1970). “New species of fissurellid limpets (Gastropoda) from the eastern Pacific.” Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 124(2): 67‑78.
- Bouchet, P.; et al. (2023). “World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS): Zeidora bigelowi McLean, 1970.” Accessed [date].
Note: Information presented is based on the original taxonomic description and subsequent listings in marine species databases. Where specific data are lacking, the entry indicates the limitation rather than providing conjectural details.