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Alcyna australis

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Alcyna australis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Vetigastropoda
Order: Trochida
Superfamily: Trochoidea
Family: Trochidae
Genus: Alcyna
Species:
A. australis
Binomial name
Alcyna australis
Hedley, 1907

Alcyna australis is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Trochidae, the top snails.[1]

Description

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The size of the shell varies between 1.8 mm and 2.5 mm. The small shell has a broadly conical shape. The 4½ whorls are rounded and increase rapidly in size.

Colour: adult whorls dull white, protoconch dark purple.

Sculpture: the base is ornamented with spaced spiral grooves. These occur, but fainter, on the penultimate whorl. The protoconch, embracing 2½ whorls, is more strongly spirally furrowed. The large aperture is round. Into it projects from the columella a prominent tooth-like tubercle. The contrast in colour and sculpture between the apical and succeeding whorls distinguishes this species.[2]

Distribution

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This marine species is endemic to Australia and occurs off Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania and in the Timor Sea.

References

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  • Wilson, B. 1993. Australian Marine Shells. Prosobranch Gastropods. Kallaroo, Western Australia : Odyssey Publishing Vol. 1 408 pp.
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  • To World Register of Marine Species
  • "Alcyna australis". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 15 January 2019.