Babylonia areolata Gastropod

 

Today I am posting about a modern gastropod and not a fossil. It is called Babylonia areolata (Link, 1807) snail and it can grow up to 6 cm in size. The creatures live in the Indian and Pacific Oceans and exist down to about 10 meters. They are important food source in some countries. 

A co-worker had a vial of the shells that someone brought back as a souvenir from a ocean beach vacation. She gave them to me as I was curious as to what the shell species was. My guess is the snails were caught and cooked and the shells cleaned and then sold to become souvenirs in beach side shops in tourist locations.

Modern Day Crinoids

In July 2018, I visited the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, USA. While there I came across the Hall of Biodiversity and the variety of preserved crinoids. First image is a Metacrinus rotundus crinoid found in the Pacific Ocean. The second crinoid is an Antedon sp. found near Misaki, Japan.

This last crinoid is Metacrinus rotundus crinoid found in the Pacific Ocean.

Images take July 2018.

Polystomella aculeata Foraminifera

UPDATE: I am pretty sure my earlier identification is incorrect. I now think this might be an Elphidium aculeatum (Polystomella aculeata).

This looks like a Nerotalia calcar foraminifera. It was found at Pago Beach on the island of Guam. Image is magnified 40 times under a microscope which should equate to a 1 mm field of view.

Learn more at the foramBARCODING web site.

Thanks to Pam for obtaining the specimen and Herb for the processed material.