Alcyna australis
| Alcyna australis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Vetigastropoda |
| Order: | Trochida |
| Superfamily: | Trochoidea |
| Family: | Trochidae |
| Genus: | Alcyna |
| Species: | A. australis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Alcyna australis Hedley, 1907
| |
Alcyna australis is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Trochidae, the top snails.[1]
Description
The size of the shell varies between 1.8 mm and 2.5 mm. The small shell has a broadly conical shape. The 4½ whorls are rounded and increase rapidly in size.
Colour: adult whorls dull white, protoconch dark purple.
Sculpture: the base is ornamented with spaced spiral grooves. These occur, but fainter, on the penultimate whorl. The protoconch, embracing 2½ whorls, is more strongly spirally furrowed. The large aperture is round. Into it projects from the columella a prominent tooth-like tubercle. The contrast in colour and sculpture between the apical and succeeding whorls distinguishes this species.[2]
Distribution
This marine species is endemic to Australia and occurs off Queensland, West Australia Tasmania and in the Timor Sea.
References
- ^ Marshall, B. (2013). Alcyna australis Hedley, 1907. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=720349 on 2014-01-07
- ^ Charles Hedley, The Mollusca of Mast Head Reef, Capricorn Group, Queensland. Part II; Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales v. 32 (1907)
- Wilson, B. 1993. Australian Marine Shells. Prosobranch Gastropods. Kallaroo, Western Australia : Odyssey Publishing Vol. 1 408 pp.