Volva volva is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Ovulidae (false cowries).[1] In Australia the shells are commonly referred to as a shuttle or spindle egg cowry.[2]
| Volva volva | |
|---|---|
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| Volva volva near Ponta do Ouro, Mozambique | |
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| Five views of a shell of Volva volva | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Littorinimorpha |
| Family: | Ovulidae |
| Genus: | Volva |
| Species: | V. volva
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| Binomial name | |
| Volva volva | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Description
editThe shell of Volva volva ranges between 45 and 186 mm (1.8 and 7.3 in) in length. The canals are long and narrow, while the body whorl is about one-third or less of the shell length.[3]
Distribution
editVolva volva is found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b Volva volva (Linnaeus, 1758). WoRMS (2009). Volva volva (Linnaeus, 1758). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=431078 on 5 June 2010 .
- ^ Stone, Sharman Nance (1979). Australian sea shells. Budget Books in association with Lloyd O'Neil. ISBN 0908505094. OCLC 27572625.
- ^ Harasewych, M. G.; Moretzsohn, Fabio (2010). The Book of Shells: A Life-Size Guide to Identifying and Classifying Six Hundred Seashells. University of Chicago Press. p. 343. ISBN 978-0226315775.
- ^ "Volva volva" at the Encyclopedia of Life