Four-Toothed Chrysalis Snail (Gibbulinopsis fontana) - Facts & Information
Gibbulinopsis fontana (Krauss, 1848)
Scientific Classification
Four-Toothed Chrysalis Snail: Complete Species Profile and Guide
The Four-Toothed Chrysalis Snail (Gibbulinopsis fontana (Krauss, 1848)) exemplifies distinctive features found in octopuses, clams, and snails found in various ocean regions worldwide. This in-depth guide covers taxonomy, anatomy, habitat, behavior, diet, reproduction, conservation status, and practical notes for identification and research.
Quick Facts About the Four-Toothed Chrysalis Snail
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Gibbulinopsis fontana (Krauss, 1848) |
| Common Name | Four-Toothed Chrysalis Snail |
| Family | Pupillidae |
| Order | Stylommatophora |
| Class | Gastropoda |
| Primary Habitat | Diverse Marine Habitats |
| Geographic Range | Various Ocean Regions Worldwide |
Taxonomic Classification and Scientific Background
The four-toothed chrysalis snail is placed within the phylum Mollusca. Taxonomy:
- Kingdom: Animalia - Phylum: Mollusca - Class: Gastropoda - Order: Stylommatophora - Family: Pupillidae - Scientific Name: Gibbulinopsis fontana (Krauss, 1848)
Taxonomic notes: molluscan classification is based on shell morphology, radula structure, soft anatomy, and molecular data. Always verify synonyms in MolluscaBase or WoRMS.
Physical Characteristics and Identification
Four-Toothed Chrysalis Snail typically display molluscan body plan: head, visceral mass, and muscular foot (modified in cephalopods to arms/tentacles). The mantle secretes shell material where present; radula is used by many clades for feeding. Key identification features include:
- Shell shape, sculpture, and color (for shelled taxa) - Radula type and tooth arrangement (important for diet inference) - Soft-tissue characters (gill arrangement, mantle features) - Cephalopod-specific traits: chromatophores, beak, siphon for jet propulsion
Habitat Preferences and Geographic Distribution
Four-Toothed Chrysalis Snails occur in various ocean regions worldwide, usually in diverse marine habitats. Habitat selection depends on substrate, depth, salinity, temperature and food supply. Microhabitats include intertidal rocks, seagrass beds, sandy bottoms, coral reefs, and deep-sea vents.
Behavior and Ecology
The four-toothed chrysalis snail demonstrates remarkable adaptations including a specialized radula for feeding. Behavioral highlights:
- Locomotion: foot gliding, burrowing, or cephalopod jetting - Foraging strategies: grazing, filter-feeding, predation with radula/venom, scavenging - Defensive behavior: shell withdrawal, crypsis, ink release (cephalopods), venom in some gastropods
Diet and Feeding Ecology
Diet varies by clade: many gastropods graze on algae, bivalves filter phytoplankton and detritus, and cephalopods are active predators. Feeding mechanics often correlate with radula morphology or specialized appendages/venom. Trophic role: primary consumer, predator or scavenger.
Reproduction, Development, and Life Cycle
Molluscs show diverse reproductive strategies: broadcast spawning with planktonic trochophore/veliger larvae, brooding, or direct development. Cephalopods typically have complex mating behaviors and some brood/guard eggs. Reproductive timing often links with seasonal cycles and temperature.
Conservation Status and Threats
Conservation concerns for four-toothed chrysalis snails include overharvesting (food & aquarium trade), habitat loss, pollution, and ocean acidification which impairs shell formation. Assess status via IUCN, national red lists, and targeted monitoring. Mitigation: MPAs, sustainable harvest, pollution reductions, aquaculture best-practice.
Ecological Importance and Ecosystem Services
Molluscs regulate algal communities (grazers), filter water (bivalves), and form prey base for fish, birds and mammals. Shell accumulations form substrates and beaches. Cephalopods are important mid-trophic predators with fast life-histories influencing prey populations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Four-Toothed Chrysalis Snails
What is a Four-Toothed Chrysalis Snail?
The four-toothed chrysalis snail (Gibbulinopsis fontana (Krauss, 1848)) is a mollusc belonging to the Pupillidae family and the Stylommatophora order. Molluscs are soft-bodied animals often protected by shells, with diverse feeding strategies and complex life cycles.
What is the scientific name of the Four-Toothed Chrysalis Snail?
The scientific name is Gibbulinopsis fontana (Krauss, 1848). This binomial follows Linnaean taxonomy.
Where do Four-Toothed Chrysalis Snails live?
Four-Toothed Chrysalis Snails are found in various ocean regions. Distribution is driven by substrate, temperature, salinity, and food availability.
What do Four-Toothed Chrysalis Snails eat?
Diets vary widely: grazing on algae, filter-feeding plankton, predation using radula/venom, or scavenging.
How big is a Four-Toothed Chrysalis Snail?
Size ranges widely among molluscs, from minute gastropods to giant cephalopods several meters long.
How do Four-Toothed Chrysalis Snails reproduce?
Molluscs reproduce by external spawning or internal fertilization; many have trochophore/veliger larval stages.
Are Four-Toothed Chrysalis Snails endangered?
Many species face threats like overharvesting, habitat loss, and ocean acidification affecting shell formation.
What role do Four-Toothed Chrysalis Snails play in ecosystems?
Four-Toothed Chrysalis Snails serve as grazers, filter feeders, predators, and prey, significantly shaping marine food webs.
What unique adaptations do Four-Toothed Chrysalis Snails have?
Adaptations include the radula, shell biomineralization, chromatophores (cephalopods), and ink/venom in some species.
How are molluscs studied and conserved?
Conservation uses monitoring, protected areas, regulated harvest, aquaculture and research on acidification resilience.
Data Sources and References
This profile was compiled from primary species records and scientific literature.
Primary source: GBIF / WoRMS / MolluscaBase Citation: Last Updated: 2025-10-22T11:01:58Z Taxonomic verification recommended via MolluscaBase, WoRMS, and GBIF.Conclusion: Protecting Four-Toothed Chrysalis Snails
The four-toothed chrysalis snail (Gibbulinopsis fontana (Krauss, 1848)) showcases molluscan diversity and ecological importance across various ocean regions worldwide. Protecting its habitat and understanding life-history traits will benefit biodiversity and fisheries sustainability.
Additional Research and Notes
Further research into morphology, population genetics, and responses to ocean change improves conservation planning. Studies of shell biomineralization and radula biomechanics inform both taxonomy and material-science inspired solutions. Long-term monitoring and citizen-science contributions (e.g., shell surveys, diver observations) are valuable.
Additional Research and Notes
Further research into morphology, population genetics, and responses to ocean change improves conservation planning. Studies of shell biomineralization and radula biomechanics inform both taxonomy and material-science inspired solutions. Long-term monitoring and citizen-science contributions (e.g., shell surveys, diver observations) are valuable.
Additional Research and Notes
Further research into morphology, population genetics, and responses to ocean change improves conservation planning. Studies of shell biomineralization and radula biomechanics inform both taxonomy and material-science inspired solutions. Long-term monitoring and citizen-science contributions (e.g., shell surveys, diver observations) are valuable.
Additional Research and Notes
Further research into morphology, population genetics, and responses to ocean change improves conservation planning. Studies of shell biomineralization and radula biomechanics inform both taxonomy and material-science inspired solutions. Long-term monitoring and citizen-science contributions (e.g., shell surveys, diver observations) are valuable.
Additional Research and Notes
Further research into morphology, population genetics, and responses to ocean change improves conservation planning. Studies of shell biomineralization and radula biomechanics inform both taxonomy and material-science inspired solutions. Long-term monitoring and citizen-science contributions (e.g., shell surveys, diver observations) are valuable.
Additional Research and Notes
Further research into morphology, population genetics, and responses to ocean change improves conservation planning. Studies of shell biomineralization and radula biomechanics inform both taxonomy and material-science inspired solutions. Long-term monitoring and citizen-science contributions (e.g., shell surveys, diver observations) are valuable.
Additional Research and Notes
Further research into morphology, population genetics, and responses to ocean change improves conservation planning. Studies of shell biomineralization and radula biomechanics inform both taxonomy and material-science inspired solutions. Long-term monitoring and citizen-science contributions (e.g., shell surveys, diver observations) are valuable.
Additional Research and Notes
Further research into morphology, population genetics, and responses to ocean change improves conservation planning. Studies of shell biomineralization and radula biomechanics inform both taxonomy and material-science inspired solutions. Long-term monitoring and citizen-science contributions (e.g., shell surveys, diver observations) are valuable.
Additional Research and Notes
Further research into morphology, population genetics, and responses to ocean change improves conservation planning. Studies of shell biomineralization and radula biomechanics inform both taxonomy and material-science inspired solutions. Long-term monitoring and citizen-science contributions (e.g., shell surveys, diver observations) are valuable.
Additional Research and Notes
Further research into morphology, population genetics, and responses to ocean change improves conservation planning. Studies of shell biomineralization and radula biomechanics inform both taxonomy and material-science inspired solutions. Long-term monitoring and citizen-science contributions (e.g., shell surveys, diver observations) are valuable.
Additional Research and Notes
Further research into morphology, population genetics, and responses to ocean change improves conservation planning. Studies of shell biomineralization and radula biomechanics inform both taxonomy and material-science inspired solutions. Long-term monitoring and citizen-science contributions (e.g., shell surveys, diver observations) are valuable.