''Asperdaphne bastowi'' is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

sea snail Sea snail is a common name for slow-moving marine gastropod molluscs, usually with visible external shells, such as whelk or abalone. They share the taxonomic class Gastropoda with slugs, which are distinguished from snails primarily by the ...

, a marine

gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, from freshwater, and from land. T ...

mollusk Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is e ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Raphitomidae Raphitomidae is a family of small to medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Conoidea.Bouchet P. & Rocroi J.-P. (Ed.) (2005). "Classification and nomenclator of gastropod families". ''Malacologia'' 47(1-2). . 39 ...

Description

The length of the shell attains 4 mm, its diameter 1.75 mm. (Original description) The small, greyish white shell contains 5½

whorl A whorl ( or ) is an individual circle, oval, volution or equivalent in a whorled pattern, which consists of a spiral or multiple concentric objects (including circles, ovals and arcs). Whorls in nature File:Photograph and axial plane floral ...

s. These are convex, somewhat angled below the suture, which is impressed. The apex is dome-shaped, consisting of two whorls, the first being very small. They have numerous spiral striae, crossed at right angles by others of about double strength, but the spirals are more numerous. The other whorls are ribbed longitudinally, the ribs having a slight spiral trend. These ribs terminate a little below the suture, the intervening space carrying rather closely set angularly bent threads. Under the microscope these are thickened at the base and sharp at the edge, resembling a propeller blade, their contour following the outline of the sinus. Between the ribs the area is concave and cancellated, the spirals are somewhat stronger and appear on the ribs. The outer lip is thin and crenate. The sinus is rather deep, not broad. The inner lip is somewhat concave. The siphonal canal is short and slightly everted. Gatliff, J.H. & Gabriel, C.J. 1908. ''On some new species of Victorian marine Mollusca.'' Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 21(1): 365-367, pl. 21

Distribution

This marine species is endemic to

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

and occurs off

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

and

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

References

External links

* bastowi Gastropods described in 1908 Gastropods of Australia {{Raphitomidae-stub