Sabia australis is a small limpet-like species of sea snail, belonging to the marine gastropod family Hipponicidae, also known as hoof snails.[1]
| Sabia australis | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Littorinimorpha |
| Family: | Hipponicidae |
| Genus: | Sabia |
| Species: | S. australis
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| Binomial name | |
| Sabia australis (Lamarck, 1819)
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| Synonyms | |
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Description
editSabia australis typically possesses a conical shell, with colors ranging from white to yellow or orange.[2] The surface of its shell is usually rough and textured, providing protection against environmental circumstances and serving as camouflage against predators. The size of its shell varies depending on factors such as age and environmental conditions, but typically reaches up to 30 millimeters in length.[3]
Reproduction
editSabia australis exhibits protandric hermaphroditism.[4] Female Sabia australis lay up to 10 eggs, primarily during winter, each egg containing 9 to 24 embryos that hatch into crawling juveniles.[4] These juveniles then drift or swim to find a host to settle on, often clustering on a single host.[4][5] Sabia australis is a bisexual species, with its sexual development influenced by the proximity of conspecifics.[4] For example, if it settles on a host alone, it quickly develops into a female, with its male phase being very short or nonexistent. However, if it settles next to a female, it develops into a male and lives on the back of a female.[4]
Diet
editSabia australis inhabits the shells of other mollusks and feeds on their fecal pellets.[4] It typically positions itself on the shell area with direct access to its host's excretions.[4]
Distribution
editThis species is native to southeastern and southwestern Australia, including New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria, Southern Australia, and Western Australia, where it is widespread and common.[2] It is widespread and commonly found in Tasmanian waters.[2] Sabia australis is considered cryptogenic to O'ahu, Hawai'i.[6]
Habitat
editSabia australis is found in the intertidal zone and shallow waters.[3]
References
edit- ^ Sabiaaustralis (Lamarck, 1819). WoRMS (2009). Hipponix australis (Lamarck, 1819). Accessed through the World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=598647 on 31 May 2012 .
- ^ a b c "Sabia australis | Molluscs of Tasmania". Retrieved 2024-02-26.
- ^ a b "Hipponix australis". seashellsofnsw.org.au. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
- ^ a b c d e f g Shepherd, Scoresby A.; Edgard, Graham (2013). Ecology of Australian temperate reefs: the unique South. Collingwood: CSIRO publishing. ISBN 978-1-4863-0009-9.
- ^ "Austral Hoof Shell, Sabia australis". www.marinelifephotography.com. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
- ^ "Marine Bioinvasions of Hawaii" (PDF).
- Dautzenberg, Ph. (1929). Contribution à l'étude de la faune de Madagascar: Mollusca marina testacea. Faune des colonies françaises, III(fasc. 4). Société d'Editions géographiques, maritimes et coloniales: Paris. 321-636, plates IV-VII pp.