Alcithoe jaculoides explained

Alcithoe jaculoides is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Volutidae, the volutes.

Description

The length of the shell attains 188 mm, its diameter 70 mm.[1]

(Described as Alcithoe calva) The shell is very large, narrow, and elongated, comprising 8½ whorls. The protoconch has a scaphelloid shape. It is moderately large, consisting of 2½ smooth whorls. The remaining whorls are smooth and devoid of sculpture, except in rare instances where the spire whorls are faintly shouldered, showing traces of axial ribs.[2]

The spire is tall with slightly convex whorls. It measures approximately half the height of the aperture, The body whorl is elongate and sub-cylindrical, gradually contracted below to a rounded fasciole, not marked off by the usual ridge. The aperture is long and rather narrow with a shallow notch below. The outer lip is thickened and reflexed above, ascending about one-third the height of the penultimate whorl. The columella is straight, tapering to a sharp point below, with six comparatively weak, very oblique plications; the uppermost being more or less rudimentary. There is no projecting callus plate. The inner lip is spread as a thin glaze broadly over the body whorl.

The color of the shell is pale buff, ornamented with indistinct, irregular light brown zigzag lines. The interior of the aperture is pinkish-fawn.

Distribution

This species is found only along the coast of North Island, New Zealand. [3]

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: lcithoe jaculoides Powell, 1924 . NZ Mollusca - Alcithoe jaculoides . New Zealand Mollusca . Andrew Spurgeon . 20 July 2024.
  2. Powell . A.W.B. . Three new Recent volutes from New Zealand. . Transactions of the New Zealand Institute . 1928 . 59 . 361–364 . 20 July 2024.
  3. [Arthur William Baden Powell|Powell A. W. B.]