Palaina deliciosa, also known as the minuscule staircase snail, is a species of staircase snail that is endemic to Australia's Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea.

Palaina deliciosa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Architaenioglossa
Superfamily: Cyclophoroidea
Family: Diplommatinidae
Genus: Palaina
Species:
P. deliciosa
Binomial name
Palaina deliciosa
Location of Lord Howe Island
Synonyms
  • Palaina padda Iredale, 1944

Description

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The pupiform shell of adult snails is 1.5 mm in height, with a diameter of 0.9 mm, with deeply impressed sutures. It is white in colour, with golden apical whorls. It has moderately spaced axal ribs. The umbilicus is closed. The circular aperture has an operculum.[2]

Habitat

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The snail is common and widespread across the island.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Iredale, Tom (1944). "The land Mollusca of Lord Howe Island". Australian Zoologist. 10 (3): 299–334.
  2. ^ a b Hyman, Isabel; Köhler, Frank (2020). A Field Guide to the Land Snails of Lord Howe Island. Sydney: Australian Museum. ISBN 978-0-9750476-8-2.