Stellatoma mellissi is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Mangeliidae.[1]
Stellatoma mellissi | |
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Original image of a shell of Stellatoma mellissi | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
Order: | Neogastropoda |
Superfamily: | Conoidea |
Family: | Mangeliidae |
Genus: | Stellatoma |
Species: | S. mellissi
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Binomial name | |
Stellatoma mellissi (E. A. Smith, 1890)
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Synonyms[1] | |
Pleurotoma (Mangilia) mellissi E. A. Smith, 1890 (basionym) |
Description
editThe adult shell grows to a length of 5 mm, its diameter 2 mm.
The small shell is fusiform-ovate. It has a reddish color and a darker reddish color at the sutures. The body whorl has a red band in the middle. The shell contains 6½ whorls. The 2½ protoconch whorls are convex and smooth. The third whorl is convex and is slightly obliquely lirate. The others have a broad sloping shoulder and a greatly rounded anterior portion. They show about 14 axial ribs. The spiral sculpture consists of 3 cords in the upperwhorls and 16-20 in the body whorl. The aperture is elongate-ovate, measuring about half the total length. The outer lip is marked by transverse striations and is incrassate with a strong denticle close to the posterior sinus. The microscopic structure of this species appears under the microscope to consist of numerous spiral series of very minute grain-like scales, which, at times, are arranged one under the other, so as to produce the appearance of a longitudinal series.[2]
Distribution
editThis species is found in the Atlantic Ocean off St. Helena.
References
edit- ^ a b Rosenberg, G. (2010). Stellatoma mellissi (E. A. Smith, 1890). In: MolluscaBase (2017). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=533454 on 2018-01-25
- ^ Smith E.A. (1890). Report on the marine molluscan fauna of the island of St. Helena. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 1890: 247-317, pl. 21-24