''Bolma henica'', common name the deep sea star shell, 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 Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean. Marine or marines may refer to: Ocean * Maritime (disambiguation) * Marine art * Marine biology * Marine debris * Marine habitats * Marine life * Marine pollution Military * ...

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 ...

Turbinidae, the turban snails.Gofas, S. (2012). ''Bolma henica'' (Watson, 1885). Accessed through:

World Register of Marine Species The World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) is a taxonomic database that aims to provide an authoritative and comprehensive list of names of marine organisms. Content The content of the registry is edited and maintained by scientific specialist ...

at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=555219 on 2012-09-01

Description

The size of the shell varies between 20 mm and 37 mm. The shell conical has a conical shape and is elevated with 7-8

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. Its color pattern is light yellowish ruddy, paler below. The apex is round. The first whorl is flattened. The upper three whorls are radiately ribbed, the following radiately slightly plicate in the direction of lines of growth, with a spiral series of rather large white separate beads upon the edge of the flattened shoulder below the suture, and six series of distinct small beads, separated by interstices of half their breadth upon the slope of the whorl. The periphery is sharply bicarinate, with the upper carina stellate with sharp compressed hollow spines, about twelve in number on

body whorl The body whorl is part of the morphology of the shell in those gastropod mollusks that possess a coiled shell. The term is also sometimes used in a similar way to describe the shell of a cephalopod mollusk. In gastropods In gastropods, the b ...

. The lower carina contains thirty to thirty-five vaulted scales, becoming spines toward the

aperture In optics, an aperture is a hole or an opening through which light travels. More specifically, the aperture and focal length of an optical system determine the cone angle of a bundle of rays that come to a focus in the image plane. An opt ...

. Between the carinae there are four rows of beads. The base of the shell is flat, with about ten concentric rows of very regular beads. The aperture is oblique, white within. The white columella is bluntly toothed below. The white umbilical tract is polished and slightly ridged. The operculum is oval, within flat, brown. Its outside is thick, white, granulose with a slight flange on the outer margin.G.W. Tryon (1888), Manual of Conchology X; Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia
(described as ''Astralium henicus'')

Distribution

This marine species occurs in the Indo-West Pacific and off

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

, the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

and Australia (

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

References

* Watson, R.B. 1879. ''Mollusca of the 'Challenger' Expedition. Part IV. Trochidae (continued), viz. the Genera Basilisso and Trochus, and the Turbinidae, viz. the Genus Turbo''. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology 14: 692-716 * Schepman, M.M. 1908. ''Prosobranchia (excluding Heteropoda and parasitic Prosobranchia). Rhipidoglossa and Docoglossa. With an appendix by Prof. R. Bergh ectinobranchiata'. Siboga-Expéditie Report 49(1): 1–108, 9 pls * Kira, T. 1955. ''Coloured Illustrations of the Shells of Japan''. Osaka, Japan : Hoikusha 204 pp. * Beu, A.G. & Ponder, W.F. 1979. ''A revision of the species of Bolma Risso, 1826 (Gastropoda: Turbinidae).'' Records of the Australian Museum 32: 1-68 * Wilson, B. 1993. ''Australian Marine Shells. Prosobranch Gastropods''. Kallaroo, Western Australia : Odyssey Publishing Vol. 1 408 pp.

External links

To Encyclopedia of Life

To World Register of Marine Species
* {{Taxonbar, from=Q4939886 henica Gastropods described in 1885