# Voluta ebraea

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{{Short description|Species of gastropod}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Voluta ebraea THELMA DIAS 01(pode usar).JPG
| image_caption = The Hebrew volute in its natural habitat
| taxon = Voluta ebraea
| authority = [Linnaeus](/source/Carl_Linnaeus), [1758](/source/10th_edition_of_Systema_Naturae)<ref name="Linnaeus">[Linnaeus, C.](/source/Carl_Linnaeus) (1758). ''[Systema Naturae](/source/Systema_Naturae)''. 10th ed., vol. 1: 824 pp. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae</ref>
| synonyms_ref = <ref name="WoRMS"/>
| synonyms = *''Voluta hebraea'' <small>Born, 1778</small><ref name="Born">{{cite book |last1=Born |first1=Ignaz Von |title=Index rerum naturalium Musei Caesarei Vindobonensis. Verzeichniss der Natürlichen Seltenheiten des K.K. Naturalien Kabinets zu Wien. Erster Theil, Schalthiere. Pars 1, Testacea |date=1778 |publisher=ex officina Krausiana |location=Vienna |url=http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/43890}}</ref>
*''Voluta chlorosina'' <small>[Lamarck](/source/Jean-Baptiste_Lamarck), 1811</small><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Lamarck | first1 = J.-B. | author-link = Jean-Baptiste Lamarck | year = 1811 | title = Suite de la détermination des espèces de Mollusques Testacés. Volute. (Voluta.) | journal = Annales du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle | volume = 17 | pages = 54–80 }}</ref>
*''Voluta thevenini'' <small>T. Cossignani & Allary, 2024</small><ref name="Cossignani24">{{cite journal |last1=Cossignani |first1=T. |last2=Allary |first2=A. |title=''Voluta thevenini'' (Gastropoda: Volutidae: Voluta) nuova specie dal Brasile |journal=Malacologia Mostra Mondiale |date=2024 |volume=122 |pages=24–26}}</ref>
*''Voluta turbinata'' <small>[Kiener](/source/Louis_Charles_Kiener), 1839</small><ref>[Kiener, L. C.](/source/Louis_Charles_Kiener) (1839). "Genre Volute. (Voluta, Lam.)". ''Spécies Général et Iconographie des Coquilles Vivantes'' '''3''': 70 pp., 52 pls.</ref>
}}

'''''Voluta ebraea''''', [commonly known](/source/common_name) as the '''Hebrew volute''', is a [species](/source/species) of medium-sized [carnivorous](/source/Carnivore) [sea snail](/source/sea_snail), a marine [gastropod](/source/gastropod) [mollusk](/source/mollusk) in the family [Volutidae](/source/Volutidae), the volutes.<ref name="WoRMS">{{WRMS species|382402|''Voluta ebraea'' Linnaeus, 1758|17 April 2025}}</ref> It is endemic to the northern and northeastern coasts of Brazil, and inhabits the [littoral zone](/source/littoral_zone) in a variety of substrates, including sandy bottoms, [coral reef](/source/coral_reef)s, and rocky areas from shallow waters to depths of up to 70 meters. It is known for its robust, cream-colored [shell](/source/Shell_(mollusc)) marked with reddish-brown patterns said to resemble [Hebrew script](/source/Hebrew_alphabet).

''V. ebraea'' preys primarily on [bivalve](/source/bivalve)s such as ''[Dallocardia muricata](/source/Dallocardia_muricata)'', as well as other gastropods. It is [dioecious](/source/dioecious) and exhibits [sexual dimorphism](/source/sexual_dimorphism), with females typically having a broader shell than males. Reproduction involves laying flattened, circular egg capsules, usually on the calcareous green alga ''[Udotea occidentalis](/source/Udotea_occidentalis)'' or on broken shells, yielding a small number of well-developed juveniles.

The ornate shell of ''V. ebraea'' has made it a target of the ornamental shell trade, and its meat is consumed by some coastal communities, leading to population declines in certain regions. It is also affected by [imposex](/source/imposex), a condition caused by marine pollution, particularly [tributyltin](/source/tributyltin) (TBT) from ship [antifouling](/source/antifouling) paints.

==Taxonomy and etymology==
''Voluta ebraea'' was first [described](/source/Species_description) in 1758 by the Swedish [naturalist](/source/naturalist) [Carl Linnaeus](/source/Carl_Linnaeus), the founder of modern [taxonomy](/source/taxonomy) and the system of [binomial nomenclature](/source/binomial_nomenclature).<ref name="Linnaeus"/> The species belongs to the family [Volutidae](/source/Volutidae), a group of [carnivorous](/source/carnivorous) marine snails known for their very variable, often colorful and elaborately patterned shells.<ref name="Johnsonia" /> The [scientific name](/source/scientific_name) ''ebraea'' comes from [Latin](/source/Latin), where ''ebraea'' is the feminine form of ''ebraeus'', meaning "Hebrew". This is likely the source of the common name "Hebrew volute", rather than vice versa.<ref name="Rios" /><ref name="WoRMS Vernaculars">{{cite web |title=Voluta ebraea Linnaeus, 1758 - Vernaculars |url=https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=382402#vernaculars |website=WoRMS |access-date=17 April 2025}}</ref> Some authors have suggested that this name refers to the reddish-brown markings on the shell, which are said to resemble [Hebrew script](/source/Hebrew_alphabet). However, this interpretation is not universally accepted and may be speculative.<ref name="Rios" />

==Description==
===Shell===
{{multiple image
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| image1            = Voluta ebraea1 - BioLib.jpg
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| image2            = Voluta ebraea2 - BioLib.jpg
| alt2              = 
| footer            = A shell of ''V. ebraea'' with its respective claw-like [operculum](/source/Operculum_(gastropod)) (right, inside the [aperture](/source/aperture_(mollusc))).
| total_width       = 300
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The [shell](/source/Gastropod_shell) of ''Voluta ebraea'' can exceed 200&nbsp;mm in length,<ref name="Thelma">{{Cite journal|last=Dias|first=T. L. P.|year=2009|title=First field study of the Brazilian endemic marine gastropod ''Voluta ebraea'' (Mollusca: Volutidae)|journal=Marine Biodiversity Records|volume=2|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=United Kingdom|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/marine-biodiversity-records/article/first-field-study-of-the-brazilian-endemic-marine-gastropod-voluta-ebraea-mollusca-volutidae/4DB88F7012D1E6D1CED584BCF7F1B448|doi=10.1017/s1755267208000109|bibcode=2009MBdR....2E..10D |url-access=subscription}}</ref> with specimens measuring up to 220&nbsp;mm reported. However, shell lengths between 100&nbsp;mm and 150&nbsp;mm are more commonly observed.<ref name=Siratus90 /> The shell is robust and solid, with a slightly elongate shape. The external coloration is typically cream, adorned with intricate, darker reddish-brown markings and lines that are said to resemble [Hebraic](/source/Hebraic) characters.<ref name="Rios"/> The interior varies in color from pale to vivid orange. The rounded [protoconch](/source/protoconch) comprises two [whorl](/source/whorl)s, and the complete shell includes seven slightly convex whorls.<ref name="Rios"/> These whorls, including the [body whorl](/source/body_whorl), are decorated with several sharp, posteriorly-oriented spines.<ref name="Rios"/>

The [outer lip](/source/gastropod_shell) is thick, and the [aperture](/source/aperture_(mollusc)) is relatively long and narrow. As is characteristic of [volutes](/source/Voluta), the [columella](/source/Columella_(gastropod)) features a series of strong, oblique [columellar folds](/source/Plait_(gastropod)) (also known as plicae), typically numbering between nine and eleven.<ref name="Rios"/> These folds are especially prominent toward the anterior end of the shell. The [operculum](/source/Operculum_(gastropod)) is [corneous](/source/corneous) and claw-like in shape, partially covering the [aperture](/source/Aperture_(gastropod)).<ref name=Siratus90 />

According to some authors, [sexual dimorphism](/source/sexual_dimorphism) is evident in the shell [morphology](/source/Morphology_(biology)); males generally possess more elongate shells with smoother surfaces, while females tend to have broader shells with more pronounced nodules.<ref name="Rios"/> The angle of the shell's [spire](/source/Spire_(mollusc)) also varies between males and females: it's sharper in males (about 60°) and noticeably wider in females (around 75°).<ref name="Johnsonia"/><ref name="Rios"/>

;Variation
thumb|The body of ''V. ebraea'' is colored pale ivory and adorned with numerous dark red to brown lines and spots
The shell of ''V. ebraea'' shows a wide range of variation, especially in its [pigmentation](/source/pigmentation), surface [sculpture](/source/Sculpture_(mollusc)), the presence and intensity of undulations, and the prominence of the [shoulder](/source/Gastropod_shell).<ref name="Simone24">{{cite journal |last1=Simone |first1=Luiz R. L. |date=2024 |title=New species, misidentifications and problematic taxonomy of some Atlantic South American marine mollusks: a review |url=https://revistas.usp.br/paz/article/view/222420/206261 |journal=Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia |volume=64 |pages=e202464031 |doi=10.11606/1807-0205/2024.64.031}}</ref> Some individuals have a rounded periphery, while others exhibit an almost [keel](/source/keel)ed form with spines or nodes. The [spire](/source/Spire_(mollusc)) can vary greatly in height, while the overall shape of the shell can range from broad to narrow and elongated. The color pattern may be faint or densely marked.<ref name="Simone24" /> No particular [phenotype](/source/phenotype) is tied to a specific geographic location; instead, multiple shell variants are found coexisting in the same areas.<ref name="Simone24" /> This indicates that the variation in shell characteristics is likely driven by [genetic](/source/Genetic_variation) rather than environmental factors, which is an argument against the division of ''V. ebraea'' into [subspecies](/source/subspecies). The numerous varieties observed are better regarded as "forms" without [taxonomic](/source/taxonomic) value, though they may hold significance among collectors and in the commercial shell trade.<ref name="Simone24" />

===Soft parts===
''Voluta ebraea'' has a pale [ivory](/source/ivory)-colored body adorned with numerous irregular, intertwined dark red to brown lines, as well as several small spots of the same color along the sides of the [foot](/source/Mollusca). Notable external features include its exceptionally large foot and an [siphon](/source/Siphon_(mollusc)).<ref name=Siratus90 /><ref name="Johnsonia">{{Cite journal|last=Clench|first=W. J.|author2=Turner, R. D. |title=The subfamilies Volutinae, Zidoninae, Odontocymbiolinae and Calliotectinae in the Western Atlantic|journal=Johnsonia|year=1964|volume=4|issue=43|pages=144–145|publisher=Cambridge|location=Massachusetts|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41113583}}</ref>

This species possesses a [Stenoglossan](/source/Radula)-type [radula](/source/radula), consisting of a single row of rachidian (central) teeth. Each tooth bears multiple small, sharply pointed denticles or [cusps](/source/Cusp_(dentistry)). The radula is similar in structure, though larger than that of the [music volute](/source/Voluta_musica), a related species.<ref name="Johnsonia" />
{{clear}}

==Distribution and habitat==
''Voluta ebraea'' is an [endemic](/source/endemic) Brazilian species found exclusively along the northern and northeastern coasts of the country, where it inhabits the [littoral zone](/source/littoral_zone). Its distribution spans several states and regions, including [Pará](/source/Par%C3%A1), [Maranhão](/source/Maranh%C3%A3o), [Ceará](/source/Cear%C3%A1), [Rio Grande do Norte](/source/Rio_Grande_do_Norte), [Paraíba](/source/Para%C3%ADba), [Pernambuco](/source/Pernambuco), [Alagoas](/source/Alagoas), [Sergipe](/source/Sergipe), [Bahia](/source/Bahia), the [Abrolhos Marine National Park](/source/Abrolhos_Marine_National_Park),<ref name="Rios">{{Cite book|last=Rios|first=E. C.|title=Seashells of Brazil|publisher=FURG|location=Rio Grande|year=1994|edition=2nd|page=135|isbn=85-85042-36-2}}</ref><ref name="CDB">{{Cite web|url=http://www.conchasbrasil.org.br/english/conchology/descricao.asp?id=238|title=Conquiliologistas do Brasil|access-date=28 September 2009}}</ref><ref name="Siratus90">{{Cite journal|last=Rios|first=E. C.|title=Gastrópodes endêmicos do Brasil|journal=Siratus|year=1990|volume=1|issue=4|pages=7–10|publisher=Conquiliologistas do Brasil|location=São Paulo, Brasil|language=pt|issn=0103-5606}}</ref><ref name="Meirelles2024">{{cite journal |last1=Meirelles |first1=Carlos A.O. |last2=Mendes |first2=Cecili B. |last3=Monteiro |first3=Felipe A.C. |last4=Matthews-Cascon |first4=Helena |title=New data on the spawning of the Brazilian endemic gastropod Voluta ebraea (Mollusca: Volutidae) |journal=Pan-American Journal of Aquatic Sciences |date=2024 |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=41–45 |doi=10.54451/PanamJAS.19.1.41 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/380724244}}</ref> and the [Areia Vermelha Marine State Park](/source/Areia_Vermelha_Marine_State_Park).<ref name="Gondim et al 2011">{{cite journal |last1=Gondim |first1=Anne Isabelley |last2=Dias |first2=Thelma Lúcia Pereira |last3=Campos |first3=Felipe Ferreira |last4=Alonso |first4=Carmen |last5=Christoffersen |first5=Martin Lindsey |title=Macrofauna bêntica do Parque Estadual Marinho de Areia Vermelha, Cabedelo, Paraíba, Brasil |journal=Biota Neotropica |date=2011 |volume=11 |issue=2 |pages=75–86 |doi=10.1590/S1676-06032011000200009 |url=https://www.scielo.br/j/bn/a/Zp3RKVfF35wwcLpvcpTKc7L/|doi-access=free }}</ref> ''V. ebraea'' dwells in sandy bottoms, among [coral](/source/coral) and rocks,<ref name="CDB"/><ref name="Thelma"/> and usually shows a preference for sandy substrata.<ref name="Rios"/><ref name="MartinezML">{{Cite journal|last=Martinez|first=A. S. |author2=Mendes, L. F. |author3=Leite, T. S.|year=2009|title=Richness and distribution of epibenthic molluscs on a sandstone reef in the northeast of Brazil|journal=Anais do III Congresso Latino Americano de Ecologia|publisher=SEB|pages=1–3|url=http://www.seb-ecologia.org.br/2009/resumos_clae/507.pdf}}</ref> It may be found from shallow water to depths around 40–70 m<ref name="CDB"/><ref name="Thelma"/> and is commonly taken by shrimp trawlers.<ref name="Rochaetal97" />

==Ecology==
[[File:Petrochirus diogenes 173630564.jpg|thumb|right|The [hermit crab](/source/hermit_crab) ''[Petrochirus diogenes](/source/Petrochirus_diogenes)'' may occupy empty shells of ''V. ebraea'']]
Little is known about the [ecology](/source/ecology) of ''V. ebraea'', as studies on the subject are fairly recent and/or rather scarce.<ref name="Meirelles2024" />

===Life cycle===
[[File:Udotea occidentalis in Børgesen 1913.jpg|thumb|The fan-shaped thalli of the green algae ''[Udotea occidentalis](/source/Udotea_occidentalis)'' (figured) is used as a substrate for [egg-laying](/source/egg-laying) by ''V. ebraea''<ref name="Matthews-Cascon2010"/>]]

Like other members of the [clade](/source/clade) [Neogastropoda](/source/Neogastropoda), ''Voluta ebraea'' is [dioecious](/source/dioecious),<ref name="Castro">{{Cite journal|last=Castro|first=Í. B.|year=2008|title=Imposex in endemic volutid from Northeast Brazil (Mollusca: Gastropoda)|journal=Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology|location=Brazil|volume=51|issue=5|pages=1065–1069|issn=1516-8913|url=http://www.scielo.br/pdf/babt/v51n5/a24v51n5.pdf|doi=10.1590/s1516-89132008000500024|display-authors=etal|doi-access=free}}</ref> which means each organism belonging to this species is distinctly [male](/source/male) or [female](/source/female). It is also [sexually dimorphic](/source/sexual_dimorphism),<ref name="Thelma"/> which means there is a difference in form between individuals of different sex within this [species](/source/species).<ref name="Rios" />

The [reproductive biology](/source/reproductive_biology) of ''V. ebraea'' had remained largely undocumented until a 2010 study described its [egg capsule](/source/egg_capsule)s and early developmental stages for the first time.<ref name="Matthews-Cascon2010">{{cite journal |last1=Matthews-Cascon |first1=Helena |last2=Rocha-Barreira |first2=Cristina |last3=Penchaszadeh |first3=Pablo E. |last4=Bigatti |first4=Gregorio |title=Description of egg capsules of ''Voluta ebraea'' Linnaeus, 1758 (Gastropoda: Neogastropoda) |journal=Comunicaciones de la Sociedad Malacológica del Uruguay |date=2010 |volume=9 |issue=93 |pages=237–244 |url=https://repositorio.ufc.br/bitstream/riufc/70251/1/2010_art_hmatthewscascon.pdf}}</ref> ''V. ebraea'' is known to spawn by laying egg capsules on the fan-shaped [thalli](/source/thalli) of the calcareous green [alga](/source/alga) ''[Udotea occidentalis](/source/Udotea_occidentalis)'' in [seagrass beds](/source/seagrass_beds). Each capsule is circular, flattened, and approximately 18&nbsp;mm in diameter. Capsules contain an average of three [embryos](/source/embryos), which develop directly into juveniles.<ref name="Matthews-Cascon2010"/> The development proceeds from [veliger](/source/veliger) embryos, which feature a prominent bilobed velum used for feeding within the capsule fluid, to fully formed juveniles with a shell length of around 8 mm. These hatchlings resemble adult specimens in shell morphology and coloration.<ref name="Matthews-Cascon2010"/> 

On a [microscopic](/source/microscopic) level, the egg capsule wall consists of three layers: an external [protein](/source/protein)aceous layer (L1), a fibrous middle layer (L2), and an internal layer (L3) composed of [proteins](/source/proteins), [carbohydrates](/source/carbohydrates), and [glycoproteins](/source/glycoproteins).<ref name="Matthews-Cascon2010"/> This structure is believed to facilitate gas and [nutrient](/source/nutrient) exchange during development, a trait shared with other [volutids](/source/Volutidae).<ref name="Matthews-Cascon2010"/> The morphology of ''V. ebraea'' egg capsules is highly similar to that of ''[Voluta musica](/source/Voluta_musica)'', a related species endemic to Venezuela and Colombia. Both species produce small, single egg capsules with few embryos.<ref name="Matthews-Cascon2010"/> However, the attachment of ''V. ebraea'' capsules to algae, rather than hard substrates like shells, represents a novel ecological observation within the family Volutidae.<ref name="Matthews-Cascon2010"/>

A 2024 study reported novel findings on the [spawning](/source/spawning) behavior of ''V. ebraea'', documenting for the first time the deposition of egg capsules on broken mollusk shells in rocky-bottom [intertidal zone](/source/intertidal_zone)s at Pedra Rachada Beach, also in Ceará.<ref name="Meirelles2024" /> Egg capsules were found attached to the inner (concave) surface of a shell fragment of the also endemic gastropod ''[Titanostrombus goliath](/source/Titanostrombus_goliath)''. These findings support earlier hypotheses that deeper or variable populations of ''V. ebraea'' may utilize alternative hard substrates, such as [bivalve](/source/bivalve) shells or rocky surfaces, for spawning, much like other volutid species.<ref name="Meirelles2024" />

===Feeding habits===
[[File:Tegula viridula (Gmelin, 1791) Guarujá, São Paulo, southeast Brazil (4).jpg|thumb|right|The [top-snail](/source/Trochidae) ''[Agathistoma viridulum](/source/Agathistoma_viridulum)'' is [prey](/source/prey) of ''V. ebraea''.]]
Like many other members of the volute family, ''Voluta ebraea'' is a [carnivorous](/source/carnivorous) [predator](/source/predator). In the wild, it has been observed feeding on the [bivalve](/source/bivalve) ''[Dallocardia muricata](/source/Dallocardia_muricata)''.<ref name="Thelma"/> In captivity, it has also been seen eating other sea snails, including ''[Stramonita brasiliensis](/source/Stramonita_brasiliensis)'' (a predatory [muricid](/source/muricidae) species) and ''[Agathistoma viridulum](/source/Agathistoma_viridulum)'' (a species of [top-snail](/source/trochidae)).<ref name="Motta">{{Cite journal|last=Motta|first=S. S.|author2=Pinheiro, J. C. L. |author3=Mathews-Cascon, H. |year=2004|title=Comportamento predatório de ''Voluta ebraea'' Linnaeus, 1758 MOLLUSCA: GASTROPODA: VOLUTIDAE em condições de laboratório|journal=Resumos do XXV Congresso Brasileiro de Zoologia|location=Brasília|pages=292|language=pt|url=http://www.unb.br/ib/zoo/CBZ/resumos/Mollusca.pdf}}</ref>

===Biological interactions===
Various animals interact with the ''Voluta ebraea'' in diverse ways. The [chiton](/source/chiton) ''[Ischnochiton striolatus](/source/Ischnochiton_striolatus)'' is a known [inquiline](/source/inquiline) of ''V. ebraea'', living attached to its shell.<ref name="Lopes2020">{{cite journal |last1=Lopes |first1=Beatriz |last2=Da Silva |first2=Ellano José |last3=Xavier Martins |first3=Inês |title="Looking for a home": The ecological association between the chitons ''Ischnochiton striolatus'' (Gray, 1828) and other molluscs species |journal=Arquivos de Ciências do Mar |date=2020 |volume=52 |issue=2 |pages=115–121 |doi=10.32360/acmar.v52i2.42393|doi-access=free }}</ref> Once it is vacated, the shell is also often occupied by the [hermit crab](/source/hermit_crab) ''[Petrochirus diogenes](/source/Petrochirus_diogenes)''.<ref name="Ribeiro2020"/> Additionally, other invertebrates such as the gastropod ''[Crepidula plana](/source/Crepidula_plana)'' and certain [barnacle](/source/barnacle) species may use the shell as a substrate for attachment and habitation.<ref name="Ribeiro2020">{{cite journal |last1=Ribeiro |first1=Felipe B. |last2=Matthews-Cascon |first2=Helena |last3=Bezerra |first3=Luis E.A. |title=Records of the pea-crab ''Calyptraeotheres garthi'' (Fenucci, 1975) (Brachyura, Pinnotheridae) in Tropical Atlantic Ocean |journal=Arquivos de Ciências do Mar |date=2020 |volume=53 |issue=1 |pages=143–148 |doi=10.32360/acmar.v53i1.43434|doi-access=free }}</ref> Known predators of ''V. ebraea'' include the [Bocon toadfish](/source/Bocon_toadfish) (''Amphichthys cryptocentrus'').<ref name="MatthewsHR68">{{Cite journal|last=Matthews|first=H. R.|year=1968|title=Molluscs found in the digestive tract of the fish ''Amphichthys cryptocentrus'' (Valenciennes, 1837)|journal=Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London|volume=38|pages=247–250|url=http://mollus.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/pdf_extract/38/3/247 |issue=3}}</ref>

==Human use and conservation==
[[File:Voluta ebraea - 2050.jpg|thumb|right|A shell of ''V. ebraea'' exhibited at the Sea Shell Museum, [Phuket](/source/Phuket_province)]]
The flesh of ''Voluta ebraea'' is edible and is commonly collected for food in many regions.<ref name="Rios"/><ref name="Thelma"/> Its attractive shell is also popular as a decorative item and is often sold as a souvenir in local markets and craft shops throughout parts of Brazil.<ref name="Thelma"/><ref name="Simone24" />

Although not much is known about its official [conservation status](/source/conservation_status), ''V. ebraea'' appears to be under pressure from both [overfishing](/source/overfishing) and [overharvesting](/source/Exploitation_of_natural_resources). Because it lives in shallow waters, it's relatively easy to collect, which has likely contributed to its decline.<ref name="Thelma"/> In fact, the species is no longer seen in many places where it used to be common.<ref name="Rochaetal97">{{Cite journal|last=Rocha|first=C. A.|year=1997|title=Fauna e flora acompanhantes da pesca da lagosta no nordeste do Brasil|journal=Boletim Técnico-Científico do CEPENE|publisher=CEPENE|location=Pernambuco, Brasil|volume=5|issue=1|pages=11–22|language=pt|url=http://www.icmbio.gov.br/cepene/modulos/boletim/visualiza.php?id_arq=31|display-authors=etal|archive-date=19 April 2012|access-date=26 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419005841/http://www4.icmbio.gov.br/cepene//modulos/boletim/visualiza.php?id_arq=31|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [imposex](/source/imposex) phenomenon, which is the development of nonfunctioning male [sexual organ](/source/sexual_organ)s in females exposed to organic tin compounds such as [tributyltin](/source/tributyltin) (TBT) or [triphenyltin](/source/triphenyltin) (TPT)<ref name="Leal25">{{cite journal |last1=Leal |first1=José H |last2=Hulse |first2=Carly |last3=D'Agostino |first3=Claire |last4=Fogelson |first4=Susan |title=First record of imposex in the horse conch, Triplofusus giganteus (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Fasciolariidae) |journal=Bulletin of Marine Science |date=2025 |volume=101 |issue=2 |pages=899–900 |doi=10.5343/bms.2024.0104|doi-access=free }}</ref> has been observed in ''V. ebraea''.<ref name="Castro"/> It may have several negative consequences for entire populations of the species, from [sterilization](/source/reproduction) of individuals to their complete [extinction](/source/extinction).<ref name="Leal25"/> Such compounds act as [biocide](/source/biocide)s and antifouling agents, commonly mixed in paints to prevent marine encrustations on boats and ships.<ref name="RuizImposex">{{cite journal |last1=Ruiz |first1=J. M. |last2=Quintela |first2=M. |last3=Barreiro |first3=R. |title=Tributyltin and imposex:no uncertainty shown |journal=Marine Ecology Progress Series |date=1998 |volume=170 |pages=293–294 |doi=10.3354/meps170293|bibcode=1998MEPS..170..293R }}</ref><ref name="Hori">{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/0025-326X(95)00133-8|last=Horiguchi|first=T.|year=1995|title=Imposex in Japanese gastropods (Neogastropoda and Mesogastropoda): effects of tributyltin and triphenyltin from anti-fouling paints|journal=Marine Pollution Bulletin|publisher=Oxford|volume=31|pages=402–405|issue=4–12|bibcode=1995MarPB..31..402H |display-authors=etal}}</ref> Therefore, it is not uncommon for high concentrations of such compounds to be present in the sea water near [shipyards](/source/shipyards) and [dock](/source/dock_(maritime))ing areas, consequently exposing the nearby marine life to its deleterious effects.<ref name="Castro"/><ref name="Hori"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Voluta ebraea}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q787493}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Voluta Ebraea}}
ebraea
Category:Gastropods described in 1758
Category:Animal taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
Category:Endemic molluscs of Brazil

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Voluta ebraea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voluta_ebraea) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voluta_ebraea?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.