Enteroxenos

Enteroxenos
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Littorinimorpha
Family:	Eulimidae
Genus:	Enteroxenos; Bonnevie, 1902
Type species
	Enteroxenos ostergreni; Bonnevie, 1902
Synonyms
	Enteroxenus

Enteroxenos is a genus of very small parasitic sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Eulimidae.^[1]

Description[]

These small snails have no mouth or gut, and absorb nutrients through their body wall. These odd animals look much more like worms than snails, but the larval form is a veliger, which is characteristic of mollusks.

Species[]

Species within this genus include the following:

Enteroxenos bouvieri (Risbec, 1953)
Enteroxenos muelleri (Semper, 1868)
Enteroxenos oestergreni Bonnevie, 1902
Enteroxenos parastichopoli (Tikasingh, 1961)

Species brought into synonymy

Enteroxenos ostergreni (Bonnevie, 1902): synonym of Enteroxenos oestergreni (Bonnevie, 1902)

Reproduction[]

The female is significantly larger than the male and may grow up to 15 cm (6 in) in length. The females become hosts to the smaller males, which then fertilise their eggs.

References[]

^ Bonnevie, 1902. Gofas, S.; Le Renard, J.; Bouchet, P. (2001). Mollusca, in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels, 50: pp. 180-213 (look up in IMIS). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=137966 on 2013-01-18.

External links[]

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[WoRMS-1] Bonnevie, 1902. Gofas, S.; Le Renard, J.; Bouchet, P. (2001). Mollusca, in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels, 50: pp. 180-213 (look up in IMIS). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=137966 on 2013-01-18.

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