Ericusa is a small taxonomic genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 of medium-sized predatory marine

Marine (ocean)

Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology...

 gastropod molluscs in the family Volutidae

Volutidae

Volutidae, common name volutes, are a taxonomic family of predatory sea snails that range in size from 9 mm to over 500 mm, marine gastropod mollusks...

, the volutes..

Distribution

Ericusa are endemic to Australia. They are found in temperate waters from southern Queensland to southern Western Australia.

Shell description

The shells of Ericusa have a small rounded protoconch

Protoconch

A protoconch is an embryonic or larval shell of some classes of molluscs, e.g., the initial chamber of an ammonite or the larval shell of a gastropod...

, are biconical with a rounded shoulder and have an elongate aperture

Aperture (mollusc)

The aperture is an opening in certain kinds of mollusc shells: it is the main opening of the shell, where part of the body of the animal emerges for locomotion, feeding, etc....

 with 4 distinct columella

Columella

Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella is the most important writer on agriculture of the Roman empire. Little is known of his life. He was probably born in Gades , possibly of Roman parents. After a career in the army , he took up farming...

r plicae and a thickened outer lip. The whorls

Whorl (mollusc)

A whorl is a single, complete 360° revolution or turn in the spiral growth of a mollusc shell. A spiral configuration of the shell is found in of numerous gastropods, but it is also found in shelled cephalopods including Nautilus, Spirula and the large extinct subclass of cephalopods known as the...

 are regular, smooth and convex. The protoconch

Protoconch

A protoconch is an embryonic or larval shell of some classes of molluscs, e.g., the initial chamber of an ammonite or the larval shell of a gastropod...

 is globose and deviates 45° from the axis of the shell. The colour pattern of Ericusa is pink or yellow brown overlaid with a varied brown pattern.

The largest species with shells exceeding 200 mm in length are Ericusa fulgetrum and Ericusa sowerbyi.

Biology

Ericusa are nocturnal and predate on invertebrates. They have a large foot and siphon and they lay relatively large solitary eggs.

Taxonomy

Several infraspecific taxa of Ericusa fulgetra have been named, on the basis of colour patterns of the shell.

Species

• Ericusa fulgetrum
  Ericusa fulgetrum
  Ericusa fulgetrum is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Volutidae, the volutes....
  
  (Sowerby I, 1825)
• Ericusa papillosa
  Ericusa papillosa
  Ericusa papillosa is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Volutidae, the volutes....
  
  (Swainson, 1822)
• Ericusa sericata
  Ericusa sericata
  Ericusa sericata, common name : the silk-like volute, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Volutidae, the volutes.-Description:The size of the shell varies between 75 mm and 125 mm-Distribution:...
  
  Thornley, 1951
• Ericusa sowerbyi
  Ericusa sowerbyi
  Ericusa sowerbyi, common name the spindle-shaped volute, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Volutidae, the volutes.-Description:The size of the shell varies between 95 mm and 260 mm.-References:...
  
  (Kiener, 1839)

External links

• http://www.gastropods.com/Taxon_pages/Family_VOLUTIDAE_CYMBIINAE_ZIDONINI.shtml. Gastropods.com : Ericusa; accessed : 15 December 2010]