Horn Shells of the Potamididae Family
Two Horn Shells of the Potoamidiae Family can be found in this website:
Montagnei Horn ShellPhylogeny: Horn Shells of the Potamididae Family are gastropod mollusks in the Caenogastropoda incertae sedis order (Incertae sedis is Latin for uncertain seating, meaning they are not sure where it goes). Their assignment to this order is considered temporary. Caenogastropods make up about 60% of the marine gastropod species. They are characterized by having a coiled shell, a single gill, an auricle in the heart, and a distinct radula (rasp-like tongue). There are five superfamilies and one family within this order. The Potamididae Family is one of twenty families in the superfamily Cerithioidea. There are no subfamilies in the family, but it contains eight genera and fifty species. These shells are also commonly known as Mudwhelks, Swamp-ceriths, and Potamidids.
Description: Horn Shells are solid, small to large-sized shells, with a high conical profile. They consist of multiple flat-sided or slightly convex whorls. They have a relatively small body whorl and a small aperture, with an anterior notch. The outer lip is often thickened and flared. The exterior is rough and many are sculpted with length-wise and spiral lines or ridges. Some also display small varices. Most species in the family are brownish in color. They have a round operculum and most have a well-developed periostracum. The largest species in the Potamididae Family reaches 10 cm (3.9 inches) in length.
Habitat and Distribution: Horn Shells are found in salt and brackish water, on mud and sand flats, in the intertidal zone. They are often associated with mangrove forests. They tend to appear in large numbers where they are present. Horn Shells reside in tropical and subtropical seas worldwide. There are six species from the Potamididae Family found in Mexican waters.
Natural History: Horn Shells are deposit feeders consuming algae, detritus, and diatoms from the surface of the substrate. In turn they are preyed upon by shorebirds, crabs and predatory mollusks. They are gonochoric and reproduce sexually, through indirect fertilization. The males lack a penis and distribute their sperm in packets (spermatophores) to the females. Horn Shells are edible and larger species are harvested as a food source in some regions. Because of their abundance, Horn Shells are also collected and burned to produce lime.