Steromphala nivosa, common name the Maltese top shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Trochidae, the top snails.[1]
| Steromphala nivosa | |
|---|---|
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| Steromphala nivosa specimens at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Vetigastropoda |
| Order: | Trochida |
| Superfamily: | Trochoidea |
| Family: | Trochidae |
| Subfamily: | Cantharidinae |
| Genus: | Steromphala |
| Species: | S. nivosa
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| Binomial name | |
| Steromphala nivosa (A. Adams, 1851)
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| Synonyms | |
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Description
editThe size of the shell varies between 6 mm and 9 mm. The umbilicate shell has an orbiculate-conoidal shape. It is gray with almost round spots. It is sulcate in a crosswise direction and longitudinally substriate. The aperture is almost round. The columella is flexuous. The base of the shell is rounded.[2]
Distribution
editThis species occurs in the Mediterranean Sea off Malta.
References
edit- ^ MolluscaBase eds. (2020). MolluscaBase. Steromphala nivosa (A. Adams, 1853). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1039848 on 2020-12-30
- ^ Tryon (1889), Manual of Conchology XI, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia
Further reading
edit- Nordsieck F., 1982: Die europäischen Meeres-Gehäuseschnecken. 2. Auflage. * Gustav Fischer, Stuttgart; 539 pp., 38 pl.
- Smriglio C., Mariottini P. & Gravina F., 1991: Nota su alcune specie del genere Gibbula Risso, 1826 ex Leach ms; Bollettino Malacologico 27 (5–9): 61–75
- Gofas, S.; Le Renard, J.; Bouchet, P. (2001). Mollusca, in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels, 50: pp. 180–213
External links
edit- "Gibbula nivosa". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
- Adams A., 1851: An arrangement of Stomatellidae, including the characters of a new genus, and of several new species; Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 18: 29–40
- Monterosato T. A. (di), 1888–1889: Molluschi del Porto di Palermo. Specie e varietà ; Bullettino della Società Malacologica Italiana, Pisa, 13 (1888[1889?): 161–180 14 (1889): 75–81]
- Affenzeller S., Haar N. & Steiner G. (2017). Revision of the genus complex Gibbula: an integrative approach to delineating the Eastern Mediterranean genera Gibbula Risso, 1826, Steromphala Gray, 1847, and Phorcus Risso, 1826 using DNA-barcoding and geometric morphometrics (Vetigastropoda, Trochoidea). Organisms Diversity & Evolution. 17(4): 789-812