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Sea Snails

A natural history

  • Book
  • © 2015

Overview

Authors:
  1. Joseph Heller

    1. Evolution, Systematics and Ecology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

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  • Presents a broad, panoramic view of all major sea snail groups, both the more abundant as well as remote ones of special interest

  • Covers all sea snail groups along with five major features of their natural history: defence, locomotion, respiration, nutrition and reproduction

  • Scientific terms are accompanied by parallel vernacular terms and the text is accompanied by over 200 illustrations

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Table of contents (14 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiii
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  2. A Background

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
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    2. What Is a Mollusc?

      • Joseph Heller
      Pages 3-10

    3. What Is a Snail?

      • Joseph Heller
      Pages 11-33

  3. Primitive Sea Snails

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 35-35
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    2. Patellogastropoda: Limpets

      • Joseph Heller
      Pages 37-53

    3. Vetigastropda: Brush Snails

      • Joseph Heller
      Pages 55-78

    4. Neritimorpha: Nerites

      • Joseph Heller
      Pages 79-85

  4. Advanced Sea Snails

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 87-87
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    2. Functional Morphology: An Evolutionary Perspective

      • Joseph Heller
      Pages 89-98

    3. Grazers and Filter Feeders

      • Joseph Heller
      Pages 99-148

    4. Predators

      • Joseph Heller
      Pages 149-200

  5. Away from the Basic Lifestyle

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 201-201
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    2. Shell Degeneration: Sea Slugs and Relatives

      • Joseph Heller
      Pages 203-255

    3. Marine Ancestors of most Land Snails: Pulmonates

      • Joseph Heller
      Pages 257-264

  6. Man-Snail Links

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 265-265
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    2. Magic, Status and Money

      • Joseph Heller
      Pages 267-283

    3. In Palaces and Shrines: Purple and Blue and Shekhelet

      • Joseph Heller
      Pages 285-305

    4. Sacred Sounds from Sea Shells

      • Joseph Heller
      Pages 307-318

    5. Sexual Perversions

      • Joseph Heller
      Pages 319-322
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Keywords

About this book

This richly illustrated book presents the diversity and natural history of sea snail groups. By integrating aspects of morphology, ecology, evolution and behaviour, it describes how each group copes with problems of defence, locomotion, nutrition, reproduction and embryonic development. First come general characteristics of the Mollusca, to which snails belong; and next, characteristics by which snails (Gastropoda) differ from other molluscs. Then a broad, panoramic view of all major sea snail groups, from the primitive to the more advanced, is presented, including both the more abundant and some remote ones of special interest. In detailing primitive sea snails, first limpets (Patellogastropoda) are described, followed by brush snails (Vetigastropoda: top-shells, turbans and allies) and nerites (Neritimorpha), a small group with remarkably high variation in shell colour and in habitats. In looking at advanced-snails (Caenogastropoda), it details the herbivorous grazers and filter-feeders and the many voracious predators, some which use venomous darts. The book also covers sea slugs (Opisthobranchia), which have shifted from mechanical to chemical defence; some are herbivores, some use their food to harness solar energy, others are predators that gain stinging cells and poisonous compounds from their food. In addition, readers will learn about aspects of sea snails in human culture, including use as sacred artefacts and objects of magic and money, as a source of the royal and sacred dyes of purple and blue and as holy ceremonial trumpets. The text, in which scientific terms are accompanied by parallel common ones, is accompanied by over 200 illustrations (mostly in colour). This comprehensive, insightful portrait of sea snails will appeal to marine biologists, zoology lecturers and students, biology teachers, field-school instructors, nature reserve wardens, amateur naturalists, as well as to lecturers and learners of human culture.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Evolution, Systematics and Ecology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

    Joseph Heller

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Sea Snails

  • Book Subtitle: A natural history

  • Authors: Joseph Heller

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15452-7

  • Publisher: Springer Cham

  • eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life Sciences, Biomedical and Life Sciences (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-15451-0Published: 25 June 2015

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-319-36187-1Published: 15 October 2016

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-15452-7Published: 16 June 2015

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XIII, 354

  • Number of Illustrations: 108 b/w illustrations, 135 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: Biodiversity, Invertebrates, Freshwater & Marine Ecology, Animal Ecology

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