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Additional Photos
shell
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Phanerophthalmus smaragdinus
(Ruppell & Leuckart, 1828)
Maximum size: 30 mm.
Identification:
This
animal has a translucent shell with a greatly expanded aperture
and an outer lip that projects well above the apex. The shell is
external but only about 1/8 the length of the animal and almost
completely covered by the parapodia. The animal is cream densely
flecked with olive green.
Natural history:
Phanerophthalmus
smaragdinus is a rare species in protected back reef habitats at
< 1 m (< 3 ft) with only one animal seen. However, we've found a
number of shells
in sand samples from Halimeda
kanaloana beds and Kay, 1979 states that it has been dredged
from 50 m (164 ft) suggesting that it is more common in deeper water.
Our one live animal showed a nocturnal activity pattern while held. It
laid a lozenge-shaped, white egg mass with densely packed eggs that
measured 9 by 6 mm. The mass was attached by an adhesive surface and
hatched in four days.
Distribution:
Maui, Oahu, French Frigate Shoals and Midway: widely distributed in the
Indo-Pacific.
Taxonomic notes:
The
drawing of this animal in Kay, 1979 is mislabeled as Phanerophthalmus cylindricus. Also, the shell listed as this species in Severns, 2011 probably falls within the range of variation for P. cylindricus, instead.
Photo: CP: 30
mm: Hekili Point, Maui; Oct. 26, 1999.
Observations and comments:
Note
1: ( )
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