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Description: | Specimen of a fossil gastropod, Xenophora cumulans Brongniart, collected from unspecified rocks of Tertiary, Middle Eocene, Lutetian - Bartonian age from Paris Basin, France. Collected by William K. Loftus.
Xenophora are very unusual sea snails because they collect shells, rocks, and other debris and build it into their shells. They are commonly called carrier shells. The name is Greek and means 'bearer of foreigners'. The process of selecting and attaching shell fragments has been seen in living species and takes up to 1½ hours. The reason for collecting debris in the shell is uncertain. It may either strengthen the thin shell or provide camouflage on the sea floor.
The specimen was found in France.
It is from the Tertiary period (65 - 1.8 million years ago) | Publisher: | Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums | Subjects: | Gastropoda Classification: Animalia Invertebrata Mollusca William K. Loftus | Temporal: | Tertiary period (65 - 1.8 million years ago) | Source: | Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums | Identifier: | http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/geofinder/se... | Go to resource |
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