Vexillum stainforthii, common name Stainforth's mitre, is a species of small sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Costellariidae, scientifically known as the ribbed miters.[1]

Vexillum stainforthii
Shell of Vexillum stainforthii (holotype)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Turbinelloidea
Family: Costellariidae
Genus: Vexillum
Species:
V. stainforthii
Binomial name
Vexillum stainforthii
(Reeve, 1842)
Synonyms
  • Mitra stainforthii Reeve, 1841 · unaccepted (original combination)
  • Vexillum (Costellaria) stainforthii (Reeve, 1842) ·

Description

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The length of the shell attains 49.3 mm.

(Original description) The narrow shell is somewhat cylindrically fusiform ith a high spire and a purple-brown apex. The eight whorls are transversely striated and longitudinally ribbed. The strong, axial ribs are rather broad, convex, somewhat distant (about ten on the body whorl). They are crossed by fine, closely set, spiral grooves. The outer lip is slightly concave. The extended siphonal canal is slightly recurved and purple-brown at its end. The shell is whitish, the base and apex are ashy blue, the ribs painted with square bright red spots. The columella is four-plaited and is brown anteriorly. [2]

Distribution

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This marine species occurs in the Indo-West Pacific: the Philippines, the South China Sea, Okinawa, Japan; also off Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia)

References

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  • Habe, T. 1964. Shells of the western Pacific in color. Osaka : Hoikusha Vol. 2 233 pp., 66 pls.
  • Cernohorsky, W.O. 1970. Systematics of the families Mitridae & Volutomitridae (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Bulletin of the Auckland Institute and Museum. Auckland, New Zealand 8: 1-190
  • Rosenberg, G. 1992. Encyclopedia of Seashells. Dorset: New York. 224 pp.
  • Wilson, B. 1994. Australian marine shells. Prosobranch gastropods. Kallaroo, WA : Odyssey Publishing Vol. 2 370 pp.
  • Salisbury, R. 2000. Costellariidae of the World, Pt. 4. Of Sea and Shore 23(2): 70-84
  • Thach, N.N. 2002. The miters of Vietnam. Of Sea and Shore 25(1): 40-51
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