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Ceratostoma inornatum (Rècluz, 1851)
Asian Drill; Japanese Oyster Borer; Japanese Oyster Drill; Japanese Rocksnail
Family: Muricidae
Introduction to the Gastropods of BC

Photograph

© Aaron Baldwin     (Photo ID #2340)

Map

E-Fauna BC Static Map

Distribution of Ceratostoma inornatum in British Columbia in British Columbia

Introduction


The Japanese Oyster Drill is an introduced species in British Columbia that originates in Asia: Japan, and Korea (Global Invasive Species Database 2011). It arrived here with Japanese Oyster seed and was reported as abundant in Ladysmith Harbour and Boundary Bay by 1958 by Carl and Guiget (1958). It is an invasive species that destroys populations of oysters, particularly that of Crassostrea gigas (Global Invasive Species Database 2011).

"Ceratostoma inornatum tends to feed on young oysters such as Crassostrea gigas (Ray, 2005). C. inornatus uses its radular which acts as the drill, and "it secretes digestive enzymes into the hole, through which the snail sucks up the partially liquefied flesh." It eats about 3 oysters per week (Global Invasive Species Database 2011).

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
UnlistedUnlistedUnlistedUnlisted



BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Ocenebra inornata (Recluz, 1851)
Ocenebra japonica (Dunker, 1869)
Ocinebrellus inornatus (Récluz, 1851)
Pteropurpura inornata (Récluz, 1851)

Additional Range and Status Information Links

Ocean Biogeographic Information System Distribution Map

General References

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