Aesopus algoensis explained

Aesopus algoensis is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Columbellidae, the dove snails.

Description

The length of an adult shell attains 8 mm, its diameter 2¾ mm.

(original description in Latin) The shell is elongate and turreted. It shows a yellow base color adorned sporadically with light brown transverse interstices and brown zoning towards the anterior. The spire is pronounced, ending in a papillary apex, with distinct sutures. It consists of five slightly convex whorls, irregularly folded longitudinally and densely sulcate spirally. The body whorl is narrow. The columella is slightly recurved, and the aperture is small with a thin outer lip.^[1]

Distribution

This marine species occurs off Algoa Bay, South Africa.

References

• Lussi M. (2001) Revision of the genus Aesopus Gould, 1860 in South Africa with the description of a new species (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia: Neogastropoda). Malacologia Mostra Mondiale 35: 23–28.
• Kilburn R.N. & Marais J.P. (2010) Columbellidae. pp. 60–104, in: Marais A.P. & Seccombe A.D. (eds), Identification guide to the seashells of South Africa. Volume 1. Groenkloof: Centre for Molluscan Studies. 376 pp.

Notes and References

1. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1353472 Sowerby, G. B. III. (1892). Marine shells of South Africa. A catalogue of all the known species with references to figures in various works, descriptions of new species, and figures of such as are new, little known, or hitherto unfigured, London: G. B. Sowerby. 89 pp., 5 pls