Buccinum leucostoma
Encyclopedia
Buccinum leucostoma, common name
the yellow-mouth Buccinum, is a species
of sea snail
, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family
Buccinidae
, the true whelks.
s contains the toxin tetramine
(tetramethylammonium ion) The male shell tends to be smaller and more slender than the female shell. The interior of the peristome
in male specimens is characterised by a reddish orange colour, while in female specimens it is whitish or yellowish.
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
the yellow-mouth Buccinum, is a species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of sea snail
Sea snail
Sea snail is a common name for those snails that normally live in saltwater, marine gastropod molluscs....
, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Buccinidae
Buccinidae
Buccinidae is a very large and diverse taxonomic family of large sea snails, often known as whelks or true whelks.True whelks are mostly marine gastropod mollusks in the clade Neogastropoda...
, the true whelks.
Description
The size of the shell of an adult varies between 55 mm and 120 mm. The snail's salivary glandSalivary gland
The salivary glands in mammals are exocrine glands, glands with ducts, that produce saliva. They also secrete amylase, an enzyme that breaks down starch into maltose...
s contains the toxin tetramine
Tetramine
Tetramine is a typical name for a chemical containing four amine groups. Some examples are:* Triethylene tetramine * Hexamethylene tetramine * Tetramethylenedisulfotetramine , a rodenticide banned in most countries...
(tetramethylammonium ion) The male shell tends to be smaller and more slender than the female shell. The interior of the peristome
Peristome
The word peristome is derived from the Greek peri, meaning 'around' or 'about', and stoma, 'mouth'. It is a term used to describe various anatomical features that surround an opening to an organ or structure. The term is used in plants and invertebrate animals, such as in describing the shells of...
in male specimens is characterised by a reddish orange colour, while in female specimens it is whitish or yellowish.