Phasianella australis
| Australian Pheasant | |
|---|---|
| |
| Drawing of a shell of Phasianella australis | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Vetigastropoda |
| Order: | Trochida |
| Superfamily: | Trochoidea |
| Family: | Phasianellidae |
| Genus: | Phasianella |
| Species: | P. australis
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| Binomial name | |
| Phasianella australis Gmelin, 1788
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| Synonyms | |
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Phasianella australis, common names the Australian pheasant, painted lady, and pheasant snail, is a medium-sized to large species of sea snail with a calcareous operculum and a colorfully patterned shell, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Phasianellidae.
Description[edit]
This is the largest shell in the genus Phasianella, with its height varying between 40 mm and 100 mm. The rather thin shell is elongated and has a pointed-ovate shape. The conical spire is elevated. The shell contains 7-8 somewhat convex whorls. These are slightly flattened below the sutures. The long-ovate aperture is somewhat pyriform and forms usually less than half the total length of shell. The outer lip is thin. The columella shows more or less a white shining callus. The surface of the shell is variously longitudinally clouded and transversely articulated with red and purple olive on a polished flesh-colored, cream or white ground. The color pattern is extremely variable.[1]
Distribution[edit]
This marine species occurs off Australia and Tasmania.
References[edit]
- Rosenberg, G. 1992. Encyclopedia of Seashells. Dorset: New York. 224 pp.
- Wilson, B. (1993). Australian Marine Shells. Prosobranch Gastropods. Kallaroo, WA : Odyssey Publishing. Vol.1 1st Edn
External links[edit]
- Australian Govt
- Sea Snails Species
- Australian Government Species Bank
- "Phasianella australis". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.