''Synaptocochlea stellata'' 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 Trochidae, the top snails.
[MolluscaBase eds. (2022). MolluscaBase. Synaptocochlea stellata (Souverbie, 1863). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=573084 on 2022-06-24]
This species has become a "
species inquirenda
In biological classification, a ''species inquirenda'' is a species of doubtful identity requiring further investigation. The use of the term in English-language biological literature dates back to at least the early nineteenth century.
The term t ...
", meaning of doubtful identity.
Description
The heigfht of the shell attains 7½ mm, its diameter 5¼ mm. The shell is ear-shaped, with a minute
spire and a very large, convex
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 ...
. Its surface is somewhat shining, black with scattered whitish dots, spots or zigzag lines. The shell is sculptured by numerous close microscopic spiral striae, several smaller alternating with larger ones, and somewhat decussated by impressed growth lines. The spire is very short with a minute whitish nucleus. The three
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 convex. The body whorl is very large. The ovate
aperture is angled above, polished, and bright inside, and of a blue color. The
columella is arched. A slight chink is at the place of the
umbilicus.
G.W. Tryon (1890) Manual of Conchology XII; Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, 1890
/ref>
Distribution
This marine species occurs off Madagascar and in the Indo-Pacific, off 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 ...
; off Queensland, Australia.
References
* Brazier, J. 1877 mprint 1878 ''Continuation of the Mollusca collected during the Chevert Expedition''. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 2(1): 41-53
* Pilsbry, H.A. 1890. ''Manual of Conchology''. Philadelphia : Academy of Natural Sciences Philadelphia Vol. 12 323 pp., 65 pls.
* Hedley, C. 1901. ''A revision of the types of the marine shells of the "Chevert" Expedition''. Records of the Australian Museum 4: 121-130
* Dautzenberg, Ph. (1929). ''Contribution à l'étude de la faune de Madagascar: Mollusca marina testacea. Faune des colonies françaises, III (fasc. 4).'' Société d'Editions géographiques, maritimes et coloniales: Paris. 321–636, plates IV-VII pp.
* Cernohorsky, W.O. 1978. ''Tropical Pacific marine shells''. Sydney : Pacific Publications 352 pp., 68 pls
* Wilson, B. 1993. ''Australian Marine Shells. Prosobranch Gastropods.'' Kallaroo, Western Australia : Odyssey Publishing Vol. 1 408 pp.
* Herbert D.G. (1996) ''A critical review of the trochoidean types in the Muséum d'Histoire naturelle, Bordeaux (Mollusca, Gastropoda)''. Bulletin du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, ser. 4, 18 (A, 3-4): 409–445.
External links
Souverbie, M. & Montrouzier, R.P. 1863. ''Descriptions d'espèces nouvelles de l'Archipel Calédonien et des îles Salomon et Woodlark''. Journal de Conchyliologie 11(2): 161-176
{{DEFAULTSORT:Synaptocochlea Stellata
stellata
Gastropods described in 1863