生活在(zai)熱帶海(hai)域和亞熱帶海(hai)區,喜歡(huan)在(zai)溫暖的水域中(zhong)和淺海(hai)泥(ni)質或礫(li)質海(hai)底活動(dong),從潮間帶至淺海(hai)沙(sha)、泥(ni)沙(sha)和珊瑚礁環境中(zhong)均有棲(qi)息。一(yi)般棲(qi)息在(zai)淺水礁及海(hai)草草地。
分布很廣,從日(ri)本奄美島(dao)以(yi)南(nan)(nan),澳洲以(yi)北,東(dong)非以(yi)東(dong)的印度太平洋海(hai)域皆有(you)其(qi)蹤跡(ji)。中國海(hai)南(nan)(nan)、臺灣和西(xi)沙,南(nan)(nan)韓,印尼(ni),馬來西(xi)亞,新加坡,均有(you)分布。
鳳(feng)凰螺(luo)科的(de)(de)(de)動物,貝殼(ke)體部通(tong)常擴張,具(ju)(ju)有(you)突(tu)起。殼(ke)形態紡錘形,殼(ke)面(mian)富有(you)釉質(zhi)光澤,乳白(bai)色(se)、黃色(se)或(huo)(huo)棕(zong)色(se),豐富多彩。殼(ke)口(kou)(kou)狹長(chang),具(ju)(ju)前(qian)(qian)(qian)、后(hou)水管溝,外(wai)唇(chun)寬厚(hou),前(qian)(qian)(qian)端常有(you)“U”字(zi)型凹槽,稱(cheng)為“鳳(feng)凰螺(luo)缺(que)刻”;最具(ju)(ju)特色(se)的(de)(de)(de)是有(you)一(yi)(yi)對很發達的(de)(de)(de)眼,眼柄特長(chang),可自由(you)伸縮,能從貝殼(ke)前(qian)(qian)(qian)溝和鳳(feng)凰螺(luo)缺(que)刻處伸出窺(kui)視外(wai)部。眼周(zhou)圍通(tong)常有(you)桔色(se)、黃色(se)或(huo)(huo)紅色(se)的(de)(de)(de)環紋。外(wai)唇(chun)外(wai)翻(fan)且厚(hou),軸唇(chun)滑層(ceng)厚(hou)。殼(ke)口(kou)(kou)及(ji)軸唇(chun)光亮,無齒狀襞。厴小角質(zhi),不能覆蓋殼(ke)口(kou)(kou),邊(bian)緣常呈(cheng)鋸齒狀。厴不僅(jin)是動物向前(qian)(qian)(qian)行進的(de)(de)(de)杠(gang)桿,而且是動物保護器官的(de)(de)(de)防衛的(de)(de)(de)武器。如果魚(yu)類和蟹類想(xiang)吃(chi)它時,即(ji)用它御敵。雌雄(xiong)異體,成熟的(de)(de)(de)雄(xiong)性個體在背(bei)部右側有(you)一(yi)(yi)個長(chang)的(de)(de)(de)陰(yin)莖。
神(shen)(shen)經(jing)系統相當集中(zhong),沒有(you)(you)(you)唇神(shen)(shen)經(jing)連(lian)索。平(ping)衡器1個(ge),僅(jin)僅(jin)有(you)(you)(you)1枚耳石。唾液腺位于(yu)食道(dao)神(shen)(shen)經(jing)節的(de)后方(fang);通(tong)常沒有(you)(you)(you)食道(dao)附屬腺、吻(wen)和(he)水(shui)管(guan)。排泄和(he)呼吸系統沒有(you)(you)(you)對稱的(de)痕跡,右側相應器官退化(hua)。心臟(zang)只有(you)(you)(you)1個(ge)心耳,不被直腸穿過(guo)。鰓(sai)1枚,櫛狀,通(tong)過(guo)全表面附在(zai)外套膜上。腎直接(jie)(jie)開口在(zai)身體(ti)外面,有(you)(you)(you)的(de)具有(you)(you)(you)一條輸(shu)尿管(guan)。具有(you)(you)(you)生(sheng)殖孔。雄性(xing)個(ge)體(ti)具有(you)(you)(you)交接(jie)(jie)器。齒式(shi)通(tong)常為(wei)2-1-1-1-2。
外形上都有自(zi)(zi)己的特(te)色及各自(zi)(zi)的俗名,外表(biao)差異大但彼(bi)此間血(xue)緣密切。鳳凰螺(luo)(luo)外唇向外張開,蜘蛛螺(luo)(luo)有數(shu)根(gen)長指狀突起物,長鼻螺(luo)(luo)呈紡錐狀,前水管溝長。許多鳳凰螺(luo)(luo)色彩鮮艷(yan),大多數(shu)螺(luo)(luo)殼厚重(zhong)。口蓋(gai)長且曲,可幫助運動。
該特(te)種并不像蝸牛般滑行(xing),而是以(yi)其尖銳(rui)及呈(cheng)鐮刀狀的蓋將身體向(xiang)前推進。動(dong)物(wu)的足部窄,很強(qiang)壯,行(xing)動(dong)敏捷,可(ke)以(yi)向(xiang)前跳動(dong),可(ke)跳10.2厘米(mi)之遠(yuan)。
是(shi)(shi)植(zhi)食(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)性(xing)軟(ruan)體(ti)動物,以(yi)各種(zhong)(zhong)藻類(lei)和有機碎(sui)屑為(wei)(wei)食(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)。腹足(zu)類(lei)是(shi)(shi)以(yi)齒(chi)舌做為(wei)(wei)刮取(qu)食(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)物的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)器官,齒(chi)舌上(shang)有成(cheng)排的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)細齒(chi),分(fen)為(wei)(wei)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)央(yang)齒(chi)(central tooth),通(tong)(tong)常一(yi)枚(mei)、其兩(liang)(liang)側為(wei)(wei)側齒(chi)(lateral teeth)一(yi)對到許多(duo)對,再(zai)兩(liang)(liang)側為(wei)(wei)一(yi)對到許多(duo)對邊緣齒(chi)(marginal teeth)。植(zhi)食(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)種(zhong)(zhong)類(lei)較肉(rou)食(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)種(zhong)(zhong)類(lei)齒(chi)舌上(shang)細齒(chi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)數目更多(duo),在(zai)(zai)植(zhi)食(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)性(xing)種(zhong)(zhong)類(lei)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),齒(chi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)頂端有鋸齒(chi)。齒(chi)舌回(hui)收時(shi),邊緣齒(chi)可(ke)以(yi)收集食(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)物,再(zai)經齒(chi)舌帶送入食(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)道(dao)(dao)。在(zai)(zai)前(qian)鰓亞(ya)綱中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),由(you)(you)于扭轉,胃(wei)(wei)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)位(wei)置也倒轉,即食(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)道(dao)(dao)在(zai)(zai)胃(wei)(wei)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)后端進(jin)入,腸(chang)由(you)(you)胃(wei)(wei)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)前(qian)端通(tong)(tong)出(chu)。中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)腹足(zu)目及新腹足(zu)目,胃(wei)(wei)已失去了(le)原始結構,而(er)或多(duo)或少的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)變成(cheng)了(le)一(yi)個簡單(dan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)囊,已完全行(xing)胞外消化(hua),有發達的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)肝臟。胃(wei)(wei)接受肝臟及各種(zhong)(zhong)消化(hua)腺所分(fen)泌的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)酶(mei)進(jin)行(xing)食(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)物的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)消化(hua),其消化(hua)酶(mei)主(zhu)要是(shi)(shi)淀(dian)粉酶(mei)及纖維素酶(mei)。胃(wei)(wei)后即為(wei)(wei)腸(chang),在(zai)(zai)植(zhi)食(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)性(xing)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)種(zhong)(zhong)類(lei),腸(chang)道(dao)(dao)一(yi)般(ban)很(hen)長,而(er)且(qie)盤曲,腸(chang)壁向內突起形成(cheng)嵴(ji)與(yu)溝(gou)。腹足(zu)類(lei)其食(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)物在(zai)(zai)消化(hua)道(dao)(dao)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)運(yun)行(xing),特別是(shi)(shi)在(zai)(zai)胃(wei)(wei)與(yu)腸(chang)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)運(yun)行(xing)是(shi)(shi)由(you)(you)纖毛作(zuo)用的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)推動而(er)不(bu)是(shi)(shi)靠肌肉(rou)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)收縮。在(zai)(zai)進(jin)化(hua)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)種(zhong)(zhong)類(lei)由(you)(you)于溝(gou)與(yu)嵴(ji)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)復(fu)雜化(hua),可(ke)以(yi)同(tong)(tong)時(shi)篩選分(fen)離出(chu)4種(zhong)(zhong)或更多(duo)種(zhong)(zhong)大(da)小不(bu)同(tong)(tong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)顆粒(li),分(fen)別在(zai)(zai)不(bu)同(tong)(tong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)溝(gou)與(yu)嵴(ji)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)運(yun)行(xing)。食(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)物在(zai)(zai)消化(hua)道(dao)(dao)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)這種(zhong)(zhong)運(yun)行(xing)方式可(ke)見于所有的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)軟(ruan)體(ti)動物中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。
雌雄(xiong)異體(ti),雄(xiong)性(xing)個體(ti)包括精(jing)巢與(yu)輸(shu)精(jing)管(guan)(guan),輸(shu)精(jing)管(guan)(guan)的后(hou)端(duan)有(you)前列腺(xian)(xian)以(yi)產(chan)生授精(jing)液(ye),輸(shu)精(jing)管(guan)(guan)的末端(duan)形(xing)成(cheng)交(jiao)配器官(guan)陰(yin)莖(penis),前列腺(xian)(xian)開(kai)口在(zai)陰(yin)莖內,其授精(jing)液(ye)幫助交(jiao)配。雌性(xing)個體(ti)有(you)卵(luan)(luan)巢、輸(shu)卵(luan)(luan)管(guan)(guan),輸(shu)卵(luan)(luan)管(guan)(guan)可膨大(da)形(xing)成(cheng)蛋(dan)白(bai)腺(xian)(xian)(albumin gland)、受(shou)精(jing)囊(seminal receptacle)及粘(zhan)液(ye)腺(xian)(xian)(mucous gland)。蛋(dan)白(bai)腺(xian)(xian)及粘(zhan)液(ye)腺(xian)(xian)可分泌(mi)營養物及粘(zhan)液(ye),以(yi)形(xing)成(cheng)卵(luan)(luan)膜及卵(luan)(luan)囊,輸(shu)卵(luan)(luan)管(guan)(guan)的末端(duan)還伸出一交(jiao)配囊以(yi)貯存交(jiao)配后(hou)的精(jing)子。雌雄(xiong)性(xing)需(xu)交(jiao)配后(hou)方(fang)能使卵(luan)(luan)受(shou)精(jing)。卵(luan)(luan)多形(xing)成(cheng)卵(luan)(luan)囊,產(chan)卵(luan)(luan)在(zai)水(shui)草或其他物體(ti)上。
腹足類均為螺旋卵裂(lie),經內(nei)(nei)(nei)陷(xian)法與(yu)外(wai)包法形成原腸胚,沒有(you)(you)獨立生活的(de)擔輪幼(you)(you)蟲(chong)(chong)期(qi),在(zai)卵內(nei)(nei)(nei)已渡過擔輪幼(you)(you)蟲(chong)(chong)期(qi)。有(you)(you)自由游泳(yong)的(de)面(mian)盤幼(you)(you)蟲(chong)(chong)期(qi),它具有(you)(you)兩個大(da)的(de)纖毛葉,是來自擔輪幼(you)(you)蟲(chong)(chong)期(qi)的(de)口纖毛環,具有(you)(you)運動(dong)與(yu)取食的(de)作用。面(mian)盤幼(you)(you)蟲(chong)(chong)期(qi)已出現了足、觸手、眼及(ji)殼,在(zai)面(mian)盤幼(you)(you)蟲(chong)(chong)后期(qi)出現了扭轉,這(zhe)一過程可能在(zai)數分鐘內(nei)(nei)(nei)或數日(ri)內(nei)(nei)(nei)完成。足生長迅速(su),用以爬(pa)行,以后用足附著在(zai)底(di)部變(bian)態成成體。
外(wai)殼(ke)體螺層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)非常膨脹(zhang)。貝殼(ke)的(de)主要成(cheng)分為(wei)95%的(de)碳酸(suan)鈣和(he)少(shao)量(liang)的(de)殼(ke)質素(su)。一般(ban)可分為(wei)3層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),最外(wai)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)為(wei)黑褐色(se)的(de)角(jiao)質層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(殼(ke)皮),薄而透明(ming),有防止碳酸(suan)侵(qin)蝕的(de)作(zuo)用,由(you)外(wai)套(tao)(tao)膜邊緣分泌(mi)(mi)的(de)殼(ke)質素(su)構(gou)成(cheng);中層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)為(wei)棱柱層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(殼(ke)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)),較(jiao)厚(hou),由(you)外(wai)套(tao)(tao)膜邊緣分泌(mi)(mi)的(de)棱柱狀的(de)方(fang)解(jie)石(shi)構(gou)成(cheng),外(wai)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)和(he)中層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)可擴大貝殼(ke)的(de)面積(ji),但不(bu)增(zeng)(zeng)加厚(hou)度;內層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)為(wei)珍珠(zhu)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(底層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)),由(you)外(wai)套(tao)(tao)膜整個表面分泌(mi)(mi)的(de)葉(xie)片狀霰(xian)石(shi)疊成(cheng),具(ju)有美麗光澤,可隨身體增(zeng)(zeng)長而加厚(hou)。
肉可(ke)食,貝殼形狀奇特,殼表(biao)顏色美麗,鮮艷有光(guang)澤,可(ke)供觀賞,也可(ke)制作(zuo)裝飾品,價值較高(gao)。