Gigantopelta aegis | |
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Aggregation of Gigantopelta aegis with other animals, such as scaly-foot gastropods (black snails). | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Neomphaliones |
Order: | Neomphalida |
Family: | Peltospiridae |
Genus: | Gigantopelta |
Species: | G. aegis
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Binomial name | |
Gigantopelta aegis Chen, Linse, Roterman, Copley & Rogers, 2015[1]
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Gigantopelta aegis is a species of deep sea snail from hydrothermal vents, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Peltospiridae.[1]
It was described as a new species within new genus Gigantopelta in 2015 and it was classified within the family Peltospiridae.[1]
This species is known from its type locality only: Longqi hydrothermal vent field in Southwest Indian Ridge, 37°47.03′S 49°38.96′E / 37.78383°S 49.64933°E.[1]
The width of the shell is 4.84–44.83 mm.[1] Valeues of δ13C were −26.42‰ ± 0.67.[2] A distinguishing factor of the Gigantopelta aegis is their large size, hence the name, which translates to “gigantic shield” in Latin.[3] While other peltospirids reach shell diameter sizes of 15mm on average, the Gigantopelta aegis can grow up to 45.7 mm.[3] The shell is also thickly coated with a layer of sulphide. However, this is typical of other vent-dwelling gastropods. Another distinguishing factor for the Gigantopelta species is that sexual dimorphism is not exhibited, as seen in other peltopsirids.[3]