''Sediliopsis calvertensis'' is an extinct 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 species attains 21 mm, its diameter 6 mm. (Original description) The subfusiform shell is slender and contains eight

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. The upper third of each whorl is flat, with two or three impressed spiral lines. The lower part is strongly convex, with rounded oblique ribs which are sometimes recurved at the upper end, and are usually crossed by about four faint, regular, impressed spiral lines and another stronger one above the suture. 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 ...

shows about fifteen distinct impressed spirals below the costated shoulder. The lines of growth are strong, sweeping in broad curves around the notch which is on the shoulder. The surface is polished. The suture is impressed. The beak is short and slightly twisted.G. C. Martin. 1904. Gastropoda. Maryland Geological Survey Miocene(Text):131-269
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Distribution

Fossils of this species were found in Miocene Strata of the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, USA.

References

* Petuch & Drolshagen, Molluscan Paleontology of the Chesapeake; CRC Press, 2009

External links

Fossilworks: ''Sediliopsis calvertensis''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sediliopsis Calvertensis calvertensis Gastropods described in 1904