Phylum Mollusca

Class Gastropoda

 

Family Vermetidae

Worm Snails

Worm snails are suspension-feeding gastropods that have tubular uncoiled shells attached to the substrate.  Some aggregate to form reefs of their own.

 

HAWAII

Serpulorbis variabilis

Kapoho Point, Kailua, Oahu

 

Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu

Sharks Cove, Oahu, 30 feet

Portlock, Oahu

Brown shell is criss-crossed by strong ribs.  There is no operculum.  Aperture diameter up to 1/3 inch, whorls up to 2 inches.  Common on shallow reefs.  Hawaiian, Line, and Marshall Islands.

Vermetus alii   

Ft. Kamehemeha, Oahu, 2 feet

 

Ft. Kamehemeha, Oahu, 2 feet

Ft. Kamehemeha, Oahu, 2 feet

Gray shell has fine ribs and the purple animal has a large operculum.  Found on rocks in bays.  Aperture diameter up to 1/3 inch, whorls up to 2 inches.  Endemic to Hawaii.

Dendropoma gregaria

Diamond Head, Oahu

 

Diamond Head, Oahu

Diamond Head, Oahu

 

Diamond Head, Oahu

Diamond Head, Oahu

 

Diamond Head, Oahu

Diamond Head, Oahu

Vermetid Reef, Diamond Head, Oahu

GREGARIOUS WORM SNAIL

Forms thick mats nearly 2 inches thick on wave benches.  Shells brown with very dark aperture.  Aperture diameter up to 1/8 inch, whorls up to 1/2 inch.  Hawaii & the Central Pacific.

Petaloconchus keenae

Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, 3 feet

Kapoho tidepool, Hawaii

KEEN'S WORM SNAIL

Abundant on hard surfaces at any depth.    Lightly sculptured tube coiled with end projecting upward.  Animal brown or purple with white marks, yellow mantle edge.  Operculum black.  Aperture diameter up to 1/4 inch, whorls up to 1/2 inch.  Hawaii & the Marshall Islands.

 


EASTERN PACIFIC

Serpulorbis squamigerus

Rock Quarry, Catalina, California, 40 feet

Common on and under stones.  About 1/3 inch in diameter.  Southern California.

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