Cerithium zebrum explained

Cerithium zebrum is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cerithiidae. Cerithium zebrum is also commonly named zebra horn.^[1]

Description

Cerithium zebrum has a distinctive growth to its shell where it starts as a solitary spiral cord that progressively strengthens over time giving its more pronounced spiral shell.^[2] There are numerous threads within its shell that differentiate in toughness since when they form a keel it tends to have more fragile ribs or axial riblets due to its one spiral strand. Its shell reaches about 7mm in length. Coming in many different colors from brown to beige, salmon, and even mauve. They also have a variable design that the shell has between being banded and unbanded.^[3]

Distribution & Habitat

The distribution of Cerithium zebrum includes the Western Central Pacific.^[4] The primary habitat of Cerithium zebrum is found among the rocky shores of the rugged and ever-changing conditions of the intertidal zone or tidal pools. It's also said they can be found among the anchialine ponds which are in other words brackish water. (Brackish water is a mix between fresh and saltwater).^[5]

• Guam^[4]
• Hawaii
• American Samoa
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Indonesia
• Philippines

References

• Hasegawa K. (2017). Family Cerithiidae. Pp. 788-793, in: T. Okutani (ed.), Marine Mollusks in Japan, ed. 2. 2 vols. Tokai University Press. 1375 pp.

External links

• Gould A.A. (1849). [Descriptions of new species of shells, brought home by the U. S. Exploring Expedition]. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History. 3: 83-85, 89-92, 106-108, 118-121 [May 1849], 140-144]
• Deshayes G.P. (1863). Catalogue des mollusques de l'île de la Réunion (Bourbon). Pp. 1-144. In Maillard, L. (Ed.) Notes sur l'Ile de la Réunion. Dentu, Paris
• Melvill J.C. & Standen R. (1895) Notes on a collection of shells from Lifu and Uvea, Loyalty Islands, formed by the Rev. James and Mrs. Hadfield, with list of species. Journal of Conchology 8: 84–132, 3 pls
• Crosse H. (1863). [Book review of] Catalogue des mollusques de l'île de la Réunion (Bourbon), par M. G.P. Deshayes. Journal de Conchyliologie. 11(4): 394-401]
• Houbrick R.S. (1993) Two confusing Indo-Pacific cerithiids. The Nautilus 107(1): 14-23
• Smith E.A. (1903). A list of species of Mollusca from South Africa, forming an Appendix to G. B. Sowerby's "Marine Shells of South Africa". Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London. 5(6): 354-402, pl. 15

Notes and References

1. Book: Kay, E. Alison . Hawaiian marine shells . 1979 . Bishop Museum Press . 0-910240-26-4 . Honolulu, Hawaii . 5954550.
2. Book: Hoover, John P. . Hawai'i's sea creatures : a guide to Hawai'i's marine invertebrates . 1998 . Mutual Pub . 1-56647-220-2 . [Honolulu, Hawaii] . 41975146.
3. Web site: Phylogenetic relationships and generic review of the Bittiinae (Prosobranchia: Cerithioidea) .
4. http://sealifebase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?genusname=Cerithium&speciesname=zebrum Cerithium zebrum
5. Web site: THE ATOLL OF FUNAFUTI, ELLICE GROUP : ITS ZOOLOGY, BOTANY, ETHNOLOGY AND GENERAL STRUCTURE BASED ON COLLECTIONS MADE BY CHARLES HEDLEY OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM, SYDNEY, N.S.W. .