Euthria cornea

Euthria cornea, common name : the spindle euthria, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Buccinidae, the true whelks.

Fossil reports
The fossil record of this species dates back to the Miocene (age range: from 11.608 to 7.246 million years ago). These fossils have been found in Italy.



Description
The shell size of Euthria cornea varies between 20 mm and 80 mm. This mollusk has a robust fusiform shell, with a sharp apex. The opening is oval, wide, with slight striae. The horny operculum is oval. The coloration of the shell is quite variable, with irregular dark spots on a brownish-gray background. The mollusk is orange. This predatory species mainly feeds on small bivalves, opening slightly the valves with the strong foot and sucking the tissues.

Distribution and habitat
This species occurs in the Atlantic Ocean off Portugal and Morocco and in the Mediterranean Sea. It can be found at depths of 5 to 30 m, mainly on rocky substrates.