Conchological Society of Southern
Africa
President:
Dr. Johan Marais |
Secretary:
Mrs. Kobie du Preez |
Editor Strandloper:
Mrs. Kobie du Preez |
Vice President:
Mrs. Rina Matthee |
Treasurer:
Mrs. Christelle
Deysel |
Additional Members:
Mr. Alwyn Marais Mr. Maurice Evans
Mr. Damian Kislig |
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Patron 1:
Dr. Richard Kilburn
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All Correspondence
The Secretary CSSA
P.O Box 8760
Sonpark
1206 South Africa |
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Afrivoluta
pringlei (Tomlin, 1947) – Emblem of the Conchological Society of Southern
Africa Class: Gastropoda Order: Neogastropoda Family: Marginellidae First
described in 1947 by J.R le Brockton Tomlin, this unique shell was probably
the first shell to be described from material taken by a South African
Trawler. Tomlin referred the first specimens, discovered by Dr. John A
Pringle, past director of the Natal Museum, to the family Volutidae.
Subsequent study of the anatomy has shown it to be a primitive Marginellid,
the biggest species from Southern African waters. The
shells are found in deep water (140-500m) from the Agulhas Bank and its
slopes, from off Port Alfred to Jeffreys Bay. The
Marginellidae is a large family of tropical and subtropical gastropods. Most
species burrow shallowly in sand or gravel. They are active predators, (although
carrion is also eaten), feeding mainly on small gastropods and bivalves. A
poison gland, opening into the buccal cavity, is evidently used to immobilize
the prey, but, curiously, many species lack a radula. Interesting enough, Afrivoluta pringlei has a very broad
comb-like radula. Bibliography:
Sea Shells of Southern Africa,
Kilburn & Rippey, p. 114 |
