Stomatella terminalis, common name the pointed false ear, is a species of very small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk or micromollusk in the family Trochidae, the top snails.[1]
| Stomatella terminalis | |
|---|---|
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| Original drawing with two views of a shell of Stomatella terminalis | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Vetigastropoda |
| Order: | Trochida |
| Superfamily: | Trochoidea |
| Family: | Trochidae |
| Genus: | Stomatella |
| Species: | S. terminalis
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| Binomial name | |
| Stomatella terminalis (Verco, 1905)
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| Synonyms | |
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Gena terminalis Verco, 1905 | |
Description
edit(Original description by Joseph Verco) The height of the shell is 5.75 mm, its diameter 3 mm. The minute, thin shell has an oblong-oval shape with parallel sides parallel. The shell contains four whorls and an inconspicuous, terminal spire. Its surface is smooth and polished but for microscopic accremental lines. There are no spiral striae or incisions, except microscopic, on the base of the body whorl. Its colour is white, with crowded spiral bands of crescentic white and dark and reddish-brown spots and blotches. The radula has the following formula: ~ 1 (5.1.5).1 .~ 36 rows.
The ornament varies greatly. The shell may be blotched pink and white, and there may be numerous fine spiral, hair-like, dark lines. It was formerly Gena terminalis.[2]
Distribution
editThis marine species is endemic to Australia and occurs off South Australia.
References
edit- ^ Marshall, B. (2013). Stomatella terminalis (Verco, 1905). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=718915 on 2014-04-06
- ^ Verco, J.C. 1905. Notes on South Australian marine Mollusca with descriptions of new species. Part II.; Transactions and proceedings and report of the Royal Society of South Australia, v. 29, p. 1661905
- Cotton, B.C. 1959. South Australian Mollusca. Archaeogastropoda. Handbook of the Flora and Fauna of South Australia. Adelaide : South Australian Government Printer 449 pp
- Wilson, B. 1993. Australian Marine Shells. Prosobranch Gastropods. Kallaroo, Western Australia : Odyssey Publishing Vol. 1 408 pp.