''Pyrgospira aenone'' 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 ...

.MolluscaBase eds. (2022). MolluscaBase. Pyrgospira aenone (Dall, 1919). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1545276 on 2022-03-19

Description

The size of the shell varies between 18 mm and 40 mm. The yellowish brown shell contains about 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 exclusive of the (lost)

protoconch A protoconch (meaning first or earliest or original shell) is an embryonic or larval shell which occurs in some classes of molluscs, e.g., the initial chamber of an ammonite or the larval shell of a gastropod. In older texts it is also called ...

. The spire is acute. The whorls are markedly shouldered. The suture is strongly appressed with a strong cord in front of it. The anal fasciole is excavated, arcuately striated, with a few obscure fine spiral threads running in it. The axial sculpture consists of (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 ...

fifteen) short prominent nearly vertical subrectangular ribs rounded above and confined to the peripheral region in front of which on the base of the body whorl are about twice as many thread-like ridges mostly continuous over the base to the beginning of the

siphonal canal The siphonal canal is an anatomical feature of the shells of certain groups of sea snails within the clade Neogastropoda. Some sea marine gastropods have a soft tubular anterior extension of the mantle called a siphon through which water is ...

. The incremental lines are rather marked. The spiral sculpture consists of three or four threads with wider interspaces overrunning and sometimes slightly nodulating the peripheral ribs. In front of these on the base are about eight spiral threads conspicuously nodulous at the intersections with the minor ridges, and with much wider interspaces. On the younger shells these threads are more close set, fewer and less nodulous, the minor ridges inconspicuous. Finally between these in the adult are more or less distinct finer spiral striae. The siphonal canal is also spirally threaded with a conspicuous siphonal fasciole. The aperture is rather narrow with a well marked anal sulcus close to the suture, and on the body a prominent subsutural callus. The outer lip is produced, sharp-edged and smooth within. The inner lip is callous. The outer edge of the enamel is slightly raised, and on the siphonal canal prominent with a chink between it and the siphonal fasciole. The siphonal canal is short and recurved. Dall (1919) Descriptions of new species of Mollusca from the North Pacific Ocean; Proceedings of the U.S. National Museum, vol. 56 (1920)
(described as ''Clathrodrillia aenone'')

Distribution

This species occurs in the Pacific Ocean from Nicaragua to Panama; also off the Galápagos Islands.

References

External links

Reeve, L. A. (1843-1846). Monograph of the genus Pleurotoma. In: Conchologia Iconica, or, illustrations of the shells of molluscous animals, vol. 1, pl. 1-40 and unpaginated text. L. Reeve & Co., London.

Melvill, J. C. (1927). Descriptions of eight new species of the family Turridae and of a new species of Mitra. Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London. 17(4): 149–155

Pilsbry, H. A. & Lowe, H. N. (1932). West Mexican and Central American mollusks collected by H. N. Lowe, 1929–1931. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 84: 33-144, 17 pls
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Pyrgospira Aenone aenone Gastropods described in 1919