Merica melanostoma
Appearance
Merica melanostoma | |
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Apertural view of a shell of Merica melanostoma westralis | |
Scientific classification | |
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Genus: | |
Species: | M. melanostoma
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Binomial name | |
Merica melanostoma (Sowerby, 1849)
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Synonyms[1] | |
Cancellaria melanostoma Sowerby, 1849 |
Merica melanostoma is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cancellariidae, the nutmeg snails.[1]
Subspecies
- Merica melanostoma melanostoma (Sowerby, G.B. II, 1849) [2]
- Merica melanostoma westralis (Garrard, T.A., 1975) [3]
Description
The shell is whitish-orange and cream. Its size varies between 14mm and 38 mm, ending in a pointed apex. The shells are more globular than the rest of the genus, accented with rounded shoulders and deep sutures. The surface is covered with fine nodules.[4]
Distribution
This species is distributed in the Red Sea, Western Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Oman, West Australia and Northern Australia
References
- ^ a b Merica melanostoma (Sowerby, 1849). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 30 October 2010.
- ^ Gastropods.com : Merica melanostoma melanostoma; accessed : 30 October 2010
- ^ Gastropods.com : Merica melanostoma westralis; accessed : 30 October 2010
- ^ Richmond, M. (Ed.) (1997). A guide to the seashores of Eastern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean islands. Sida/Department for Research Cooperation, SAREC: Stockholm, Sweden. ISBN 91-630-4594-X. 448 pp