More than 2200 species of the wild flora and fauna photographed in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico and the surrounding area.
Optimized for viewing on desktop or laptop
Molluscs of Zihuatanejo
PHYLUM MOLLUSCA
Spiny Cup-and-Saucer
Crucibulum spinosum
-Gastropods (Class Gastropoda)
-Caenogastropods (Subclass Caenogastropoda)
-Order Littorinimorpha
-Superfamily Calyptraeoidea
-Slippersnails (Family Calyptraeidae)
-Cup-and-Saucer Limpets (Genus Crucibulum)
-Crucibulum spinosum
Crucibulum spinosum is a small marine gastropod in the slippersnail family Calyptraeidae, commonly called the spiny cup-and-saucer limpet. It has a low, cone-shaped shell with a roughvexterior and a distinctive internal shelf that creates the “cup-and-saucer” structure characteristic of the genus Crucibulum. This species lives attached to hard substrates such as rocks and shells in shallow coastal waters, particularly along tropical eastern Pacific shores including Mexico. Like other members of its family, it feeds by filtering plankton from the water and remains firmly cemented in place as an adult.
Description
The spiny cup-and-saucer snail (Crucibulum spinosum) is a marine gastropod in the family Calyptraeidae. Its shell is low, cap-shaped, and nearly circular, with a recurved apex and prominent radial ribs bearing rows of spines or knobby projections. Shell colour ranges from whitish and yellowish-tan to orange-brown or grey, often with darker streaks or mottling. Inside the shell is a distinctive shelf-like structure resembling a small cup, attached along one side. The shell can reach approximately 7 cm across.
Range
This species is native to the eastern Pacific, ranging from California south along the Pacific coast of Mexico and Central America to Chile. It occurs along the coast of Guerrero, including Zihuatanejo, Mexico.
Habitat
The spiny cup-and-saucer snail attaches to rocks, shell fragments, coral rubble, and other hard surfaces in coastal waters. It occurs in the intertidal zone and subtidal habitats, with records extending to depths of approximately 90 m. It is often found in shallow bays and on rocky or mixed sand-and-stone bottoms.
Diet
Crucibulum spinosum is primarily a suspension feeder, filtering plankton and other fine organic particles from seawater using its gills. It can also graze on algae and consume detritus that accumulates on nearby surfaces.