Aporrhais pespelecani

Researched By	Lizzie Tyler	Data Supplied By	University of Sheffield
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Aporrhais pespelecani	Common name	Pelicans foot
MCS Code	W430	Recent Synonyms	None
Phylum	Mollusca	Subphylum
Superclass		Class	Gastropoda
Subclass	Prosobranchia	Order	Mesogastropoda
Suborder	Strombacea	Family	Aporrhaiidae
Genus	Aporrhais	Species	pespelecani
Subspecies
Additional Information
Taxonomy References	Hayward et al., 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Howson & Picton, 1997, Graham, 1988, Fish & Fish, 1996
General Biology
Growth form	Turbinate	Feeding method	Passive suspension feeder, Active suspension feeder
Mobility/Movement	Crawler, Burrower	Environmental position	Infaunal
Typical food types	Feeds on fragments of detritus and algae in mud and muddy sand.	Habit	Free living
Bioturbator		Flexibility	None (< 10 degrees)
Fragility	Robust	Size	Small-medium(3-10cm)
Height	Insufficient information	Growth Rate	Insufficient information
Adult dispersal potential	Not researched	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Solitary
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information
Biology References	Hayward et al., 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Graham, 1988, Fish & Fish, 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1990
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Recorded from various locations around the British Isles.
Global distribution	Recorded from northern Norway and Iceland to the Mediterranean.
Biogeographic range	Not researched	Depth range	0 - 180 m
Migratory
Distribution Additional Information
Substratum preferences	Muddy gravel, Coarse clean sand, Muddy sand, Mud	Physiographic preferences
Biological zone		Wave exposure
Tidal stream strength/Water flow		Salinity
Habitat Additional Information
AMBI Group (Borja et al., 2000)	I
Distribution References	Graham, 1988, Fish & Fish, 1996, JNCC, 1999, Picton & Costello, 1998, NBN, 2002, Hayward & Ryland, 1990
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Gonochoristic	Developmental mechanism	Planktotrophic
Reproductive Season	Spring-Autumn	Reproductive Location	Insufficient information
Reproductive frequency	Annual episodic	Regeneration potential	No
Life span	Insufficient information	Age at reproductive maturity
Generation time	Insufficient information	Fecundity
Egg/propagule size		Fertilization type	Insufficient information
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential Insufficient information Larval settlement period Duration of larval stage
Additional Information	Lengthy pelagic life - free-swimming veliger larvae. Breed in spring. In the Øresund the larvae are found mainly between late March to early September (Thorson, 1946).
Reproduction References	Thorson, 1946