Ericusa
# Ericusa

Ericusa is a small taxonomic genus of medium-sized predatory marine gastropod molluscs in the family Volutidae, the volutes.

## Distribution

Ericusa are endemic to Australia. They are found in temperate waters from southern Queensland to southern Western Australia.

## Shell description

The shells of Ericusa have a small rounded protoconch, are biconical with a rounded shoulder and have an elongate aperture with 4 distinct columellar plicae and a thickened outer lip. The whorls are regular, smooth and convex. The protoconch is globose and deviates 45° from the axis of the shell. The colour pattern of Ericusa is pink or yellow brown overlaid with a varied brown pattern.

The largest species with shells exceeding 200 mm in length are Ericusa fulgetrum and Ericusa sowerbyi.

## Biology

Ericusa are nocturnal and prey on invertebrates. They have a large foot and siphon and they lay relatively large solitary eggs.

## Taxonomy

Several infraspecific taxa of Ericusa fulgetra have been named, on the basis of colour patterns of the shell.

## Species

* Ericusa fulgetrum (Sowerby I, 1825)
* Ericusa papillosa (Swainson, 1822)
* Ericusa sericata Thornley, 1951
* Ericusa sowerbyi (Kiener, 1839)
