''Leptotrophon spinacutus'', also known as ''Poirieria spinacatus,'' 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 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 ...

Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.

Description

The length of the shell attains 9.5 mm. Leptotrophon spinacutus was first described as such in a journal of the

French National Museum of Natural History French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with France ...

(1986) along with six other new species of Muricidae, by the Belgian malacologist Roland Houart.

Distribution

This particular species was found south of the French territory of

New Caledonia ) , anthem = "" , image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of New Caledonia , map_caption = Location of New Caledonia , mapsize = 290px , subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...

, 390-400m below sea-level. Houart describes it as having a medium-sized shell for its genus, and being white in color with pale brown blotches. It is covered by a thin white outer layer, the intritacalx (= the chalky outer layer).

References

* Houart R. (1986 1985". Mollusca Gastropoda: Noteworthy Muricidae from the Pacific Ocean, with description of seven new species. in: Forest, J. (Ed.) Résultats des Campagnes MUSORSTOM I et II Philippines (1976, 1980). Tome 2. Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle. Série A, Zoologie. 133: 427–455

External links

MNHN, Paris: holotype
Muricidae Gastropods described in 1986 {{Muricidae-stub