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Crepidula aculeata

 

Close-up view of an individual C. aculeata showing large spines along shell ribbing.  Photo courtesy R. Collin, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.

Species Name: 
Crepidula aculeata (Gmelin, 1791)

Common Name:
Spiny Slippersnail

Species Description:
The family Calpytraeidae is made up of three genera: Crepidula (slipper shells), Crucibulum (cup and saucer shells) and Calyptraea (hat shells).  All of the species have limpet-shaped shells with an internal shelly septum.  The genera are distinguished by shell morphology.  In Crepidula the shell apex is directed posteriorly and the internal septum is a flat shelf that attaches along both sides of the shell.  In Crucibulum the shell is conical with a central apex and a cup-shaped internal septum.  In Calyptraea the shell is conical with a central apex but the internal shelly septum is a coiled ramp.  Shells are often not diagnostic on the species level.  Cryptic species often co-occur but they can usually be distinguished on the basis of developmental characters and body pigmentation.  There are 6 species of Crepidula, one Crucibulum and one

 
Calyptraea reported from Florida: Crepidula ustulatulina, C. depressa,  C. atrasolea, C. aculeata,  C. maculosa and C. fornicata, Crucibulum auriculum, and Calyptraea centralis.

The taxonomy of Crepidula aculeata, as it stands, is comprised of at least 8 species that are morphologically indistinguishable as adults.  However only one species, the true C. aculeata, occurs in Florida.  Externally, the shell is relatively flattened and quite coiled compared to the other Crepidula species, and is the only Crepidula with spines. External shell sculpture ranges from widely spaced large scale-like plicate spines to tightly packed pointed granular bumps along fine spiral ribs.  Shell color ranges from overall cream with scattered brown markings to solid chocolate brown, sometimes with a pale streak.  The markings are sometimes speckled, and often streaky.  The anterior margin of the septum is indented medially and notched on the animal's left. A distinct but small medial ridge or crease extends from medial indentation to posterior shell margin.  The small lunar muscle scar on the animal's right side anterior to the shelf is often more deeply indented than in other Crepidula species.  The shell is distinctly coiled with about one single whorl after the protoconch-teleoconch boundary.  The apex is appressed, usually occurs slightly above the posterior shell margin on the right, and is not excavated. Maximum shell length, 3.2 cm.

The head, neck, foot and mantle are cream but there is matt black marbled pigmentation along the edge of the foot.  Large yellow or orange pigment splotches are scattered along the neck lappets and concentrated on the lips and tentacles.  Black pigment also occurs on the dorsal side of the head and neck.  The intensity of all pigmentation varies and some animals have almost no black pigment.  The black pigment is retained in preserved or fixed material but the yellow and orange markings are lost.

Synonomy:
Calyptraea echinus Broderip, 1834
Crepidula hystrix Broderip, 1834

Potentially Misidentified Species:
Crepidula aculeata is part of a cryptic species complex which is currently under revision (Collin, In Prep).  There are at least 8 distinct species world-wide, which cannot be distinguished from one another on the basis of adult morphology, although they can be distinguished through the use of DNA sequencing and developmental data. 

In Florida, There are no other Crepidula species with spiny shells and so much shell coiling;  thus, C. aculeata is unlikely to be confused with any other species in Florida.

II.  HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION 

Regional Occurrence:
The known distribution of this species includes the east and west coasts of Florida, the Florida Keys, Yucatan, and the Bahamas.  Shells with a similar morphology have been found from as far north as North Carolina and probably also belong to this species. 

IRL Distribution:
Crepidula aculeata occurs throughout the Indian River Lagoon.

III. LIFE HISTORY AND POPULATION BIOLOGY

Age, Size, Lifespan:
Maximum shell length is 3.2 cm.

Locomotion:
Crawls.  There is no free swimming stage in hatchlings.

Reproduction:
All calyptraeids are protandric hermaphrodites:  small, young animals are males that  later change to females as they grow.  All species copulate.  Females are able to store sperm for several months.  The females deposit eggs into transparent capsules that they brood between the neck and the propodium.  In some species, swimming larvae hatch from the capsules;  in others, benthic juveniles crawl away from the capsules. 

Embryology:
Crepidula aculeata brood transparent egg capsules typical of all calyptraeids between the neck and the propodium.  The 20-30 large yolky eggs in each capsule all develop directly into crawling juveniles.  Eggs are about 380 microns in diameter and the juveniles hatch at a shell length of about 840 microns.

IV.  PHYSICAL TOLERANCES

Temperature:
Unknown

Salinity:
Unknown

V.  COMMUNITY ECOLOGY

Trophic Mode:
Species in all three genera of the Calyptraeidae are suspension feeders. They collect phytoplankton on mucus covering the gills.  Phytoplankton are then transported to the mouth on a mucus string along the dorsal right side of the neck.  The string is drawn into the mouth by the radula.

Habitat:
Crepidula aculeata are common on rocks and other hard debris in the shallow subtidal.  This species can also sometimes be found on the carapaces of horseshoe crabs.  They occur from the low intertidal to a depth of at least 60 meters.

VI. SPECIAL STATUS

Special Status:
None

Economic Importance:
None

VII. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Collin, R.  2002.  Another last word on Crepidula convexa and a description of
     C. ustulatulina sp. nov. (Gastropoda:  Calyptraeidae) from the Gulf of
     Mexico.  Bulletin of Marine Science 70:  177-184.

Collin, R.  2001.  The effects of mode of development on phylogoegraphy and
     population structure of North Atlantic Crepidula (Gastropoda: 
     Calyptraeidae).  Molecular Ecology.  10:  2249-2262. [This includes, C.
     atrasolea, C. depressa and C. ustulatulina]

Collin, R.  2000.  Phylogeny of the Crepidula plana (Gastropoda: 
     Calyptraeidea) cryptic species complex in North America.  Canadian Journal
     of Zoology.  78:  1500-1514. [This includes C. depressa and C. atrasolea]

Report by:  R. Collin, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
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Page last updated: Jan 2,  2005