CHAPTER VI: THE SPINDLE SHELLS 

 AND BAND SHELLS 



Family Fusid/E 



Shell more or less spindle-shaped; varices none; lip not 

 thickened; operculum ovate; animal as in Murex. 



Genus FUSUS, Lam. 



Shell spindle-shaped; spire many-whorled, sharp-pointed, 

 longer than body whorl; colour yellow to brown, sometimes 

 spotted, never banded; aperture oval, striate within; canal long, 

 narrow, straight; columella smooth, arched. A large genus of 

 world-wide distribution in warm seas. Living species, about 

 seventy; fossil species, from Cretaceous to Eocene, about three 

 hundred. Some of the largest and most elegant forms to be 

 found among shells occur in this genus. 



The Nicobar Spindle Shell (F. Nicobaricus, Lam.), the type 

 of the genus, has the long, elegant spindle shape, with square- 

 shouldered whorls, crowned with distinct nodules. The ribs 

 below the shoulders are rounded and separated by deep fossae 

 and inclined to be tuberculate. The pale surface is copiously 

 flamed with dark brown. The aperture is white. The straight 

 canal is as long as the spire. Length, 5 to 6 inches. 



Habitat. — Japan, Philippines. 



The Pagoda Spindle Shell {F. Pagoda, Less.) is a small but 

 remarkable shell. The pyramidal spire of many whorls is orna- 

 mented by a continuous spiral row of curving, short, upturned 

 cusps or spines. The lower part of the body whorl is sharply 

 keeled. The canal, almost twice as long as the spire, is wound 

 with several spiral rows of short spurs. Colour, yellow to chest- 

 nut. Length, 2 to 2^ inches. Depth, 14 fathoms. 



Habitat. — Corea. 



The Snout-bearing Spindle Shell (F. proboscidiferus, 

 Lam.) is a gigantic species, resembling in shape the pear conch 



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