| Lacuna marmorata | |
|---|---|
| |
| L. marmorata adult and embryos in Bodega Bay. | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Littorinimorpha |
| Family: | Littorinidae |
| Genus: | Lacuna |
| Species: | L. marmorata |
| Binomial name | |
| Lacuna marmorata Dall, 1919 | |
Lacuna marmorata is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.
Description
Lacuna marmorata has 6 described color morphs, most of which are variations of brown with white stripes. Many of these patterns are not distinct from Lacuna unifasciata. It has a radula typical of littorinids with pointed teeth, distinguishing it from the relatively flat teeth of L. unifasciata. Lacuna marmorata can also be distinguished by its more spherical shell with a smaller aperture.
Reproduction
Like other species in the genus (namely Lacuna unifasciata), this species lays benthic egg capsules on blades of surfgrass and algae. The females of this species can store sperm to produce fertilized eggs without mating. Sperm retention has been documented to last as long as 60 days.
References
- "Lacuna marmorata". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- ^ Langan-Cranford, K.M.; Pearse, J.S. (29 August 1994). "Breeding experiments confirm species status of two morphologically similar gastropods (Lacuna spp.) in central California". Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 186: 17–31. doi:10.1016/0022-0981(94)00147-6 – via ResearchGate.
| Taxon identifiers | |
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| Lacuna marmorata | |
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