Wavy Volute

Appearance

The length of the shell varies between 60 mm and 120 mm. These shells are elongated, fusiform, smooth and solid and roundly shouldered, with long pointed conical spire. Suture shows a callous edge. The aperture is elongate, salmon to orange in colour, with smooth outer lip, thickened in adults. The base colour of the external surface of the shell is fawn or white-cream, with thin axial wavy brown lines. Foot shows similar coloured zigzag lines and stripes.

Distribution

This marine species occurs off East Australia and Tasmania.

Behavior

These gastropods are carnivore, mainly feeding on other sea snails. In the spring "Amoria undulata" migrates from deep water to shallow water sandbanks to breed. It lays egg masses similar to a hollow cylinder, with a diameter of 16–20 millimetres. The embryos hatch as well developed juveniles and crawl away.

Habitat

These sea snails live intertidally on sand and mud, at depths of 9 to 503 m. They live in deeper waters in their northern range. They emerge only at night to feed.