Alvania testae is a species of minute sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc or micromollusk in the family Rissoidae.[1]

Alvania testae
Shell of Alvania testae (specimen at MNHN, Paris)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Family: Rissoidae
Genus: Alvania
Species:
A. testae
Binomial name
Alvania testae
(Aradas & Maggiore, 1844)
Synonyms[1]
  • Alvania abyssicola (Forbes, 1850) (junior synonym )
  • Alvania (Actonia) testae (Aradas & Maggiore, 1844)
  • Rissoa abyssicola Forbes, 1850 (dubious synonym)
  • Rissoa abyssicola var. conformis Jeffreys, 1870
  • Rissoa testae Aradas & Maggiore, 1844 (original combination)

Description

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The length of the shell varies between 2 mm and 4 mm.

The whitish shell is somewhat solid and transparent. It showsh distant thin pliae, vanishing towards the base, subcancellated by less elevated, distant, spiral lirae. The shell contains six whorls, somewhat convex, with a deep suture. The aperture is effuse below. The outer lip is acute, smooth within and externally varicose. [2]

Distribution

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This species occurs in the Atlantic Ocean from Norway to West Africa; in the Mediterranean Sea (Corsica, Italy, Greece).

Fossils have been found in Pleistocene strata near Ficarazzi, Sicily.

References

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  1. ^ a b Alvania testae (Aradas & Maggiore, 1844). Gofas, S. (2009). Alvania testae (Aradas & Maggiore, 1844). In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through the World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=141251 on 9 August 2010 .
  2. ^ G.W. Tryon (1884), Manual of conchology, structural and systematic : with illustrations of the species; Academy of Natural Sciences ser. 1, vol. 9
  • Aradas A. & Maggiore G. (1840-1844). Catalogo ragionato delle conchiglie viventi e fossili di Sicilia. Atti dell'Accademia Gioenia di Scienze Naturali
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