Asterophila japonica explained

Asterophila japonica is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Eulimidae. The species is one of three known species within the genus Asterophila, the other congeneric species being Asterophila perknasteri and Asterophila rathbunasteri.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Distribution

This mollusk's anatomy and its reported distribution has changed over time. It was once thought to have lived in the Atlantic Ocean around New Jersey. But now new evidence has shown that this species lives in starfish around the Asiatic Coast of the Pacific Ocean.^[4]

Anatomy

This species has now been proven to be very similar to those in the families Melanellidae-Entoconchidae, so it is not necessary to allocate it its own family as the taxonomist Thiele did in 1929.^[4] However, there are some similarities and some differences. The larva is a typical veliger with smaller lobes like the Melanellidae-Entoconchidae. However this larva has a pericardium and a kidney.^[4]

External links

• To World Register of Marine Species

Notes and References

1. Randall & Heath, 1912. Warén A. & Lewis L.M. (1994) Tho new species of eulimid gastropods endoparasitic in asteroids. The Veliger 37(4):325-335. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=536279 on 2013-02-11.
2. Web site: ADW Asterophila japonica. 24 December 2012. Animal Diversity Web. 24 December 2012.
3. Turgeon, D.; Quinn, J.F.; Bogan, A.E.; Coan, E.V.; Hochberg, F.G.; Lyons, W.G.; Mikkelsen, P.M.; Neves, R.J.; Roper, C.F.E.; Rosenberg, G.; Roth, B.; Scheltema, A.; Thompson, F.G.; Vecchione, M.; Williams, J.D. (1998). Common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the United States and Canada: mollusks. 2nd ed. American Fisheries Society Special Publication, 26. American Fisheries Society: Bethesda, MD (USA). . IX, 526 + cd-rom pp. (look up in IMIS)page(s): 89
4. Web site: The endoparasitic mollusk Asterophila japonica Randall and Heath and its relation to the parasitic gastropods. 24 December 2012. Natural Sciences Repository. 2012.