Mitrella ocellata
| Mitrella ocellata | |
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| Species: | M. ocellata
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| Binomial name | |
| Mitrella ocellata (Gmelin, 1791)
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Mitrella ocellata, common name the white-spotted dove shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Columbellidae, the dove snails.[1]
Description
The size of the shell varies between 6 mm and 14 mm.
The small, oblong shell is pretty thick, cylindrical and smooth. It is fawn colored or red, dotted with small, round, white dots, disposed regularly in quincunxes, or in a net work. The spire is composed of eleven whorls, generally truncated at the summit. The whorls are subconnate, surrounded at their upper part by an articulated band of white and brown. The body whorl is ornamented towards its base with numerous transverse fine striae. The aperture is narrow, of a violet color. The outer lip is obtuse, thick, almost straight, interiorly having small folds or teeth in large quantities. The upper extremity forms the commencement of an emargination. All the external surface of this shell is covered by a membranous, reddish, thin periosteum, so transparent, that the colors are seen through it. [2]
Distribution
This marine species has a wide distribution. It occurs in the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, in the Atlantic Ocean off Northeast Brasil, Ascension Island, St Helena and the Canary Islands and off West Africa.
References
- ^ Mitrella ocellata (Gmelin, 1791). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 17 April 2010.
- ^ Kiener (1840). General species and iconography of recent shells : comprising the Massena Museum, the collection of Lamarck, the collection of the Museum of Natural History, and the recent discoveries of travellers; Boston :W.D. Ticknor,1837 (described as Buccinum cribrarium)
- Gofas, S.; Le Renard, J.; Bouchet, P. (2001). Mollusca. in: Costello, M.J. et al. (eds), European Register of Marine Species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Patrimoines Naturels. 50: 180-213
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