It is typically found on muddy bottoms and often near river mouths. It ranges from the shoreline to a depth of about 150 m (490 ft) but tends to be more common in deeper waters.[1][4]
Description
Tiphobia horei has a large shell with spines, so it is easily to determine.[4]
The width of the shell typically is 26 mm (1.0 in),[4] and the height typically is 36 mm (1.4 in),[4] but the latter can reach up to about 52 mm (2.0 in).[6]
Tiphobia horei is ovoviviparous, there are typically almost 500 embryos per time and upon being "born" each young is up to about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long.[6] This snail feeds on detritus.[7]
Conservation status
This snail was given Endangered species status in 1996, but in 2006 this was revised to Least Concern, as it was found to be widespread within the lake and at least locally common.[1] It is facing sedimentation, dredging and shell collecting, but these are considered to be minor threats to this species.[1]
^Smith E. A. (1880). "On the shells of Lake Tanganyika and of the neighbourhood of Ujiji, central Africa". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London1880: 344-352. page 348, Plate 31, figure 6-6b.
^Palacios-Fest, M.R.; S.R. Alin; A.S. Cohen; B. Tanner; H. Heuser (2005). "Paleolimnological investigations of anthropogenic environmental change in Lake Tanganyika: IV. Lacustrine paleoecology". Journal of Paleolimnology. 34 (1): 51–71. Bibcode:2005JPall..34...51P. CiteSeerX10.1.1.489.2218. doi:10.1007/s10933-005-2397-1.
Moore J. E. (1898). "The mollusks of the Great African lakes. 2. The anatomy of the Typhobias, with a description of a new genus (Batanalia) (sic)". Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science41: 181-204. Plate 11-14.
