''Dactylastele burnupi'' 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 ...
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
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 ...
Calliostomatidae
Calliostomatidae is a family of sea snails within the superfamily Trochoidea and the clade Vetigastropoda.Gofas, S. (2013). Calliostomatidae. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetail ...
.
Description
The height of the imperforate, conical shell attains 14 mm. The shell contains eight, flat
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 with deep
sutures. The shell is prettily granulated, the granules upon the base being less pronounced than those above. The thread-like interstices are brown. The oblique
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 ...
is subquadrate. The general color of the shell is a fleshy tint, varied at intervals with brown blotches which are often pale bordered on the left or anterior side. The lowermost row of granules is smaller than those above. This gives the whorls a channeled appearance at the suture.
(Description of ''Cantharidus bisculptus'') The height of the shell attains 10 mm, its diameter 8 mm. The shell has an acute conical shape. It is angulate. The 15 spirals above the angle are much finer than those upon the base. The colour may be variable but in the original greyish white example examined, the brown stripes are divided down the middle by a whitish line. They are slightly undulating and the basal lirae are spotted with the same blackish brown colour. The seven
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 are not quite flat as the rounded keel, which passes above the
suture, causes a faint swelling at the lower part. 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 ...
is subquadrate. The
lip is sharp and slightly thickened on the inside. The white
columella is slightly arcuate and reflexed. The slight umbilical perforation is sometimes covered by the reflexed
columella.
Smith, E.A. (1906) ''On South African marine Mollusca, with descriptions of new species''. Annals of the Natal Government Museum, 1, 19–71, pls. 7–8
/ref>
Distribution
This marine species occurs in the Indian Ocean off Mozambique
Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...
and off Durban
Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...
, KwaZuluNatal, South Africa.
References
* Kilburn, R.N. (1974) ''Taxonomic notes on South African marine Mollusca (3): Gastropoda: Prosobranchia, with descriptions of new taxa of Naticidae, Fasciolariidae, Magilidae, Volutomitridae and Turridae''. Annals of the Natal Museum, 22, 187–220.
* Kilburn, R.N. & Rippey, E. (1982) ''Sea Shells of Southern Africa''. Macmillan South Africa, Johannesburg, xi + 249 pp. page(s): 39
* Vilvens C. (2014). New species and new records of Calliostomatidae (Gastropoda: Trochoidea) from Madagascar. Novapex. Hors-Série 9: 1-29.
* Marshall, B. A. (1995). Calliostomatidae (Gastropoda: Trochoidea) from New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands, and the northern Lord Howe Rise. in: Bouchet, P. (Ed.) Résultats des Campagnes MUSORSTOM 14. Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle. Série A, Zoologie. 167: 381-458.
* Lussi M. (2014). Description of a new species of Calliostoma from eastern South Africa with notes on the genus - (Gastropoda: Verigastropoda: Trochoidea). Malacologia Mostra Mondiale. 85: 14-19
External links
*
Smith E.A. (1899). Descriptions of new species of South African marine shells. Journal of Conchology. 9: 247-252, pl. 5
Herbert D.G. (2015). An annotated catalogue and bibliography of the taxonomy, synonymy and distribution of the Recent Vetigastropoda of South Africa (Mollusca). Zootaxa. 4049(1): 1-98
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dactylastele Burnupi
burnupi
Gastropods described in 1899