Vexillum kuiperi | |
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Shell of Vexillum kuiperi (paratype at MNHN, Paris) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
Order: | Neogastropoda |
Family: | Costellariidae |
Genus: | Vexillum |
Species: | V. kuiperi
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Binomial name | |
Vexillum kuiperi Turner, 2006[1]
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Vexillum kuiperi is a species of small sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Costellariidae, the ribbed miters.[2] This genus is not monophyletic, instead it contains 80% of costellariid diversity[3]
The length of the shell attains 7 mm. The color of the shell is typically a reddish orange and cream striped shell. The Vexillum species produces a complex venoms dominated by highly diverified short cysteine-rich peptides, vexitoxins, related to conotoxins.
This marine species occurs off Guam and New Caledonia. They are typically found in an aquatic environment, spcecifically in tropical and temperate seas.[3] These specimens are rare in Kwajalein. They are found under rocks or in caves at night. They are also found at seaward reefs at depths of 13-20cm. [4]