Rubyspira, new genus and two new species of bone-eating deep-sea snails with ancient habits |
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Authors: | Johnson S B Warén A Lee R W Kano Y Kaim A Davis A Strong E E Vrijenhoek R C |
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Affiliation: | Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, California 95039, USA. sjohnson@mbari.org |
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Abstract: | Rubyspira, a new genus of deep-sea snails (Gastropoda: Abyssochrysoidea) with two living species, derives its nutrition from decomposing whalebones. Molecular phylogenetic and morphological evidence places the new genus in an exclusively deep-sea assemblage that includes several close relatives previously known as fossils associated with Cretaceous cold seeps, plesiosaur bones, and Eocene whalebones. The ability to exploit a variety of marine reducing environments may have contributed to the evolutionary longevity of this gastropod lineage. |
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