Fig Shells of the Ficidae Family
One Fig Shell of the Ficidae Family can be found in this website:
Panamic Fig Shell, Ficus ventricosa. A representative of the Ficidae Family of Fig Shells.
Phylogeny: Fig Shells of the Ficidae Family are gastropod mollusks in the Littorinimorpha order. This order is large and very diverse in shape including snail-like, cowry shaped, and limpet-like. Most are marine species but some are found in freshwater or on land. They all have a twisted shell and a muscular foot that is used for movement. The key characteristic is that they all exhibit torsion, which is a process where the body twists so that the anus, gills, mantle cavity, and reproductive organs all point forward. There are sixteen superfamilies in this large order. The Ficidae Family is the only family in the superfamily Ficoidea and the family does not have any subfamilies. There is only one genus – Ficus, which has twelve species.
Description: Fig Shells are medium to large-sized shells, which are thinly constructed but strong. They are gracefully curving and shaped like an elongate fig or pear. The shell is almost all body whorl and the spire is extremely low, only slightly extending above the body whorl. The aperture is large and the siphon canal is long and open. The outer lip is smooth and the columella is smooth and sinuous. The exterior is sculpted with a fine lattice of spiral and axial cords. Shells in this family tend to be whitish to pinkish with darker banding or blotching. They have a large mantle that extends over the shell and they do not have an operculum. At least some species in this family display sexual dimorphism, with the females being larger than the males. The largest individuals in this family reach 16 cm (6.25 inches).
Habitat and Distribution: Fig Shells glide along the bottom on a large foot, over sand, mud, or silt substrates. They live in the lower intertidal zone and at depths up to 200 m (656 feet). Much deeper records for this family came from the genus Thalassocyon, which has since been moved into its own family. Figs are found worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters. Two species are found in Mexican waters.
Natural History: Fig Shells are variously described as either carnivorous predators that feed primarily on echinoderms, or detritivores. In turn, they are preyed upon by crabs, fish, mollusks and sea stars. They are gonochoric and reproduce sexually, with internal fertilization. The eggs are laid as masses of stacked capsules.