''Crassiclava layardi'' is a
species of
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 in the
family Pseudomelatomidae
Pseudomelatomidae is a family of predatory sea snails, marine gastropods included in the superfamily Conoidea (previously Conacea) and part of the Neogastropoda ( Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005).
In 1995 Kantor elevated the subfamily Pseudomelatomina ...
, the turrids and allies.
Description
The length of the shell attains 12 mm, its diameter 4 mm.
The smooth, turreted, narrowly claviform shell is reddish brown to uniform dark brown. It shows 7 moderately strong longitudinal ribs. It contains 7 obtusely angulated
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, above the shoulder slightly concave, below almost convex. The spiral lirae are feeble. The
aperture is oblong-ovate. The
columella is upright and shows a slight
callus on top. The outer
lip is arcuate with a wide sinus and not deeply emarginate.
Distribution
This marine species occurs from
Table Bay to
East London
East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth.
Etymology
As in other languages, the word is formed from the f ...
, Republic South Africa
References
* Turton W.H. (1932). ''Marine Shells of Port Alfred, S. Africa.'' Humphrey Milford, London, xvi + 331 pp., 70 pls. page(s): 22, pl. 4, sp. 170
* Kilburn, R.N. & Rippey, E. (1982) ''Sea Shells of Southern Africa''. Macmillan South Africa, Johannesburg, xi + 249 pp. page(s): 116
* Steyn, D.G. & Lussi, M. (1998) Marine Shells of South Africa. An Illustrated Collector's Guide to Beached Shells. Ekogilde Publishers, Hartebeespoort, South Africa, ii + 264 pp.
page(s): 152
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Crassiclava Layardi
Endemic molluscs of South Africa
layardi
Gastropods described in 1897