Buccinum leucostoma | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Two shells of Buccinum leucostoma | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
Order: | Neogastropoda |
Family: | Buccinidae |
Genus: | Buccinum |
Species: | B. leucostoma
|
Binomial name | |
Buccinum leucostoma
Lischke, 1872
|
Buccinum leucostoma, commonly known as the yellow-mouth buccinum, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Buccinidae, the true whelks. [1]
The size of the shell of an adult varies between 55 mm and 120 mm. The snail's salivary glands contains the toxin tetramine (tetramethylammonium ion). [2] The male shell tends to be smaller and more slender than the female shell. The interior of the peristome in male specimens is characterised by a reddish orange colour, while in female specimens it is whitish or yellowish. [3]
This species is found in the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Japan.