Tibia fusus



Tibia fusus, common name Spindle tibia or Shinbone Tibia Gastropod, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.

Distribution
This species is widespread in Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific, from Indochina, China Sea, southern Japan and the Philippines to the Banda Sea, Indonesia, Australia and Oceania.

Habitat
Most Tibia fusus live in tropical offshore waters where there is plenty of sand, at depths of 5 to 50 m.

Description
The shells of Tibia fusus can reach a length of 15 - 31 cm (including the long siphonal canal), with a typical length of 23 cm (9 in.). These shells are large, spindle-shaped with moderately convex turns and an extremely long, thin and slightly curved siphonal canal. The basic color ranges from straw yellow to reddish-beige. The aperture is ovate and white inside, with 6 fingerlike growths on the outer lip.

It is a fairly common species where it occurs, but because of its attractive appearance, it is highly sought after by shell collectors.

Life cycle
Embryos develop into free-swimming planktonic marine larvae (trochophore) and later into juvenile veligers.