Titanostrombus galeatus: Difference between revisions

Compared to other gastropods, ''Lobatus galeatus'' has an unusual means of locomotion, which is common only among the Strombidae. This curious series of maneuvers was originally described by the American zoologist [[George Howard Parker]] in 1922. The animal initially fixes the posterior end of the foot by thrusting the point of its sickle-shaped operculum into the[[substrate (biology)|substrate]]. Then it extends its foot forward, lifting the shell and throwing it ahead in a so-called leaping motion.<ref name="parker">{{cite journal|last=Parker|first=G. H.|year=1922|title=The leaping of the stromb (''Strombus gigas'' Linn.)|journal=Journal of Experimental Zoology|volume=36|pages=205–209|doi=10.1002/jez.1400360204}}</ref> ''L. galeatus'' is known to move long distances, on a scale of [[kilometers]], in a matter of months.<ref name=Cipirani2008 /> Burrowing behavior, in which an individual sinks itself entirely or partially into the substrate, is frequent among strombid gastropods.<ref name="Savazzi89">{{cite journal|last=Savazzi|first=E.|title=New observations on burrowing in strombid gastropods|journal=Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde. Serie A (Biologie)|year=1989|issue=434|pages=1–10|publisher=Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde|issn=0341-0145}}</ref> On the course its [[life expectancy|life span]], ''Lobatus galeatus'' spends part of the time partially buried in the sand.<ref name=Cipirani2008 />