Strombidae 145 



and beauty of color of its shells. It is represented in American waters 

 by the single genus Strombus. 



The animals live between low tide mark and 10 fathoms on 

 sandy or gravelly bottom, where their carrion food can be found 

 in abundance. "Strombs" are scavengers and are equipped with 

 acute senses of sight and smell and exceedingly strong jaws and 

 teeth. The sexes are separate. 



The foot of Strombus is long, narrow and strong, bearing a 

 termmal, clawlike operculum, too small to close the aperture of 

 the shell, but making of the foot an efficient prop on which the 

 creature can raise itself, and by awkward, jerking movements fall 

 to one side or forward. This ungainly mode of progression enables 

 Strombus to move about, and stranded individuals seem to make 

 some effort to regain the water. 



Shells of the Strombidae are large, thick and solid, with short, 

 conical spire, acute apex and large body whorl with a long, nar- 

 row aperture which is notched or canaliculate both anteriorly and 

 posteriorly. The outer lip is thick, expanded or alate, and in some 

 genera its outer margin is deeply indented like the spread fingers 

 of a hand. Living shells have a brownish periostracum which quickly 

 scales off with exposure and drying. The color of the shells is usually 

 a combination of pale shades of brown and buff, and the polished in- 

 ner surface of the lip shows beautiful blending of pale pink, orange, 

 purple, and sometimes a greenish tinge. 



Genus STKOMBUS Linne, 1758 

 Stronibns pugilis alatus-^i Gmelin PI. 28, figs. 203, 204 



Alt., 80 mm. Shell pyriform, solid and heavy; color ranges 

 through shades of ivory and brown, often disposed in banded or 

 zigzag patterns; brownish periostracum; spire of eight whorls, 

 eight-tenths altitude of shell; body whorl large, smooth, narrowed 

 toward base where it is spirally striate; early whorls with strong 

 revolving ribs and longitudinal ribs which become prominent, spinous 

 tubercles about shoulders of later whorls; sutures distinct, lower 

 whorl appears to slightly overlap preceding whorl; aperture straight, 

 narrow; lip thickened, alate, protracted above with deep notch at 



'"^ Gr., strombos, a spiral shell so named by Aristotle; Lat, pugil, a boxer; 

 alatus, winged. - 



