Melo broderipii
Melo broderipii is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Volutidae, the volutes.[1]
| Melo broderipii | |
|---|---|
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| Five views of a shell of Melo broderipii | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Neogastropoda |
| Family: | Volutidae |
| Genus: | Melo |
| Species: | M. broderipii |
| Binomial name | |
| Melo broderipii (Griffith & Pidgeon, 1834) | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Voluta lamarckii Kiener, 1839 | |
Description
Melo broderipii is a large predatory sea snail mostly found in seas around the Philippines. It was first identified and named by Gray. Measurements 90-200-250- 355 mm. One of the largest gastropod snails but not the largest in the Melo species.
Melo broderipii is often referred to as a bailer shell as their shape makes them the perfect canoe bailer. Many tribes in New Guinea and other south pacific islands use the various types of Melo to make jewelry and shell money as well as canoe bailers. The large orange Melo pearls which are sometimes found were treasured especially by royalty in Vietnam in the past.[2]
References
- Melo broderipii (Griffith & Pidgeon, 1834). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010.
- A collectors guide to seashells of the world by Jerome M. Eisenberg
