''Laetifautor rubropunctatus'' 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
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 ...
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 ...
.
[Bouchet, P. (2012). ''Laetifautor rubropunctatus'' (A. Adams, 1851). 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=467301 on 2012-12-07
Description
The small, buffish shell has an orbiculate-conic shape. It is ornamented with transverse spinulose cinguli (4 on the
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 interstices are clathrate, beautifully dotted with red.
This species is readily recognized by its peculiar painting and remarkable
sculpture
Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sc ...
.
A.Adams describes the color as "lutescens."
G.W. Tryon rather considers it pale fleshy pink, with dark red dots in the interstices between the oblique costae and the transverse or spiral ridges. The latter are said to be four in number on the body whorl. But on careful examination Tryon found six, of which four are, however, more prominent than the rest. The upper volutions are encircled by three principal lirae, and a fourth secondary one at the
suture. The points of intersection of these spiral ridges and the oblique costse are produced into quite acute nodules or prickles. The base of the shell is almost flat, ornamented with about six concentric lirae, which are more or less granulous, with the interstices exhibiting strong lines of growth and translucent nacre. The color closely approaches the rest of the surface, varied with brown dots both upon and between the granules.
Tryon (1889), Manual of Conchology XI, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia
(described as ''Calliostoma rubropunctatum'')
Distribution
This marine species occurs 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
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 ...
.
References
* Smith, E.A. (1884). Mollusca. pp. 34–116, pl. 4–7 in ''Report on the zoological collections made in the Indo-Pacific Ocean during the voyage of H.M.S. 'Alert' 1881–82.'' London : British Museum.
* Wilson, B. (1993). ''Australian Marine Shells. Prosobranch Gastropods''. Kallaroo, WA : Odyssey Publishing. Vol.1 1st Edn pp. 1–408
* Marshall, B.A. (1995). ''Calliostomatidae (Gastropoda: Trochoidea) from New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands and the northern Lord Howe Rise''. pp. 381–458 in Bouchet, P. (ed.). Résultats des Campagnes MUSORSTOM, Vol. 14 . Mém. Mus. nat. Hist. nat. 167 : 381–458
* Higo, S., Callomon, P. & Goto, Y. (1999). ''Catalogue and bibliography of the marine shell-bearing Mollusca of Japan''. Osaka. : Elle Scientific Publications. 749 pp.
* Poppe G.T. (2004) ''Descriptions of spectacular new species from the Philippines (Gastropoda – Trochidae, Cypraeidae)''. Visaya 1(1): 4–19. page(s): 5
External links
To Encyclopedia of Life
To World Register of Marine Species
{{Taxonbar, from=Q6471064
rubropunctatus
Gastropods described in 1851