User:Airahlonley/Sabia australis

Comments by A. Faucci (Apr 3, 2024):

Looks great!!!! just needs a few English/grammar edits.

= Sabia australis = Sabia australis is a species of small limpet-like sea snail, belonging to the marine gastropod mollusk family Hipponicidae, also known as hoof snails.

Description
Sabia australis typically possesses a conical shell, with colors ranging from white to yellow or orange. The surface of its shell is usually rough and textured, providing protection against environmental circumstances and serving as camouflage against predators. The size of its shell varies depending on factors such as age and environmental conditions, but typically it can grow up to 30 millimeters in length.

Reproduction
Female Sabia australis lay up to 10 eggs, primarily during winter and each egg contains 9 to 24 embryos that hatch into crawling juveniles. These juveniles then drift or swim to find a host to settle on, often clustering on a single host. Sabia australis is a bisexual species, with its sexual development influenced by the proximity of conspecifics. For example, if it settles on a host alone, it quickly develops into a female, with its male phase being very short or nonexistent. However, if it settles next to a female, it develops into a male and lives on the back of a female. This species exhibits protandric hermaphroditism.

Diet
Sabia australis inhabits the shells of other mollusks and feeds on their fecal pellets. It typically positions itself on the shell area with direct access to its host's excretions.

Distribution
This species is endemic to southeastern and southwestern Australia, including New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria, Southern Australia, and Western Australia. It is widespread and commonly found in Tasmanian waters. Sabia australis is considered cryptogenic to O'ahu, Hawai'i.

Habitat
Sabia australis is found in areas with low-tide ocean levels and shallow waters.