Modulus modulus

Modulus modulus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	incertae sedis
Family:	Modulidae
Genus:	Modulus
Species:	M. modulus
Binomial name
	Modulus modulus; (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
	Ethalia tasmanica Tenison Woods, 1877 (junior synonym); Modulus canaliculatus Mörch, 1876; Modulus convexior Mörch, 1876; Modulus krebsii Mörch, 1876; Modulus lenticularis (Lamarck, 1822) junior subjective synonym; Modulus perlatus (Gmelin, 1791); Modulus pisum Mörch, 1876; Modulus unidens (A. d'Orbigny, 1842) junior subjective synonym; Trochus filosus Helbling, 1779 junior subjective synonym; Trochus lenticularis Chemnitz, 1781 unavailable name; Trochus modulus Linnaeus, 1758 (original combination); Trochus perlatus Gmelin, 1791; Trochus unidens A. d'Orbigny, 1842 junior subjective synonym;

Modulus modulus, commonly known as the buttonsnail, is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Modulidae.¹

Distribution

This species occurs in the Caribbean Sea and includes both the east and west coast of Florida.

Description

The maximum recorded shell length is 16.5 mm.² The overall shape of the shell is button-like, with a gray or brown streaked, ridge-sculptured body whorl and a low spire.

Habitat

The minimum recorded depth is 0 m.² The maximum recorded depth is 105 m.²

Found in shell grit and coral sand, among sea grass beds -at 2 to 3 feet depth.

References

Modulus modulus (Linnaeus, 1758). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 17 May 2010.
Welch J. J. (2010). "The "Island Rule" and Deep-Sea Gastropods: Re-Examining the Evidence". PLOS One 5(1): e8776. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0008776.

Holzer, K. K.; Rueda, J. L.; McGlathery, K. J. (2011). Differences in the feeding ecology of two seagrass-associated snails. Estuaries and Coasts, 10 pp
Rosenberg, G.; Moretzsohn, F.; García, E. F. (2009). Gastropoda (Mollusca) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 579–699 in: Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas.
Florida's Living Beaches by Blair and Dawn Witherington, 2010, Pineapple Press, Inc.

External links

Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. [The system of nature through the three kingdoms of nature, according to classes, orders, genera, species, with characters, differences, synonyms, places.]. Stockholm: Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii. p. 757. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
Mörch [Mørch], O.A.L. (1876). "Synopsis molluscorum marinorum Indiarum occidentalium imprimis insularum danicarum". Malakozoologische Blätter. 23.
Gmelin, J.F. (1791). Vermes. In: Gmelin J.F. (Ed.) Caroli a Linnaei Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, Ed. 13. Tome 1(6). Leipzig: G.E. Beer. p. 3577.
Chemnitz, J.H. (1780–1795). Neues systematisches Conchylien Cabinet. Nürnberg: Gabriel Nicolaus Raspe. p. 5.
Orbigny, A. d' (1841–1853). Mollusques. In: R. de la Sagra (ed.). Histoire physique, politique et naturelle de l'Ile de Cuba. Paris: Arthus Bertrand. p. 57.
Tenison Woods, J.E. (1877). "On some new Tasmanian marine shells. (Second series)". Papers and Proceedings and Report of the Royal Society of Tasmania. 1876: 146.
Helbling, J.S. (1779). "Beyträge zur Kenntniß neuer und seltener Konchylien. Aus einigen Wienerischen Sammlungen". Abhandlungen einer Privatgesellschaft in Böhmen, zur Aufnahme der Mathematik, der vaterländischen Geschichte, und der Naturgeschichte. 4: 123.
Hedley, C. (1902). "Notes on Tasmanian and West Indian conchology". The Nautilus. 16 (5): 49.
Mook, D. (1977). "Studies on fouling invertebrates in the Indian River, Florida 2: Effect of Modulus modulus (Prosobranchia: Modulidae)". The Nautilus. 9 (14): 134–135.
Dall, W.H. (1892). "Contributions to the Tertiary fauna of Florida with especial reference to the Miocene silex-beds of Tampa and the Pliocene beds of the Caloosahatchie River. 2. Streptodont and other gastropods, concluded". Transactions of the Wagner Free Institute of Science, Philadelphia. 3 (2): 295. Retrieved 17 September 2025.

[WoRMS-1] Modulus modulus (Linnaeus, 1758). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 17 May 2010.

[Welch_2010-2] Welch J. J. (2010). "The "Island Rule" and Deep-Sea Gastropods: Re-Examining the Evidence". PLOS One 5(1): e8776. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0008776.

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