Clionella sinuata explained

Clionella sinuata, common name the ribbed turrid, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Clavatulidae.^[1]

Fossils of this species have been reported from Pleistocene localities on the west coast of South Africa.^{[2] [3]}

Description

The size of an adult shell varies between 30 mm and 45 mm.

The shell is variable in shape. The spire varies from high to relatively low. The whorls are not distinctly concave and have a narrow channel above. The subsutural cord is somewhat impressed. The axial ribs are going from strong (numbering 18-25 per whorl) to almost obsolete. The periphery contains a row of small nodules produced by the anal sinus, terminating short, low, flexuous plicate ribs. The spiral striae are not very distinct. The color of the shell is a pale rusty brown to brownish orange, under a blackish brown epidermis.^[4]

Distribution

This marine species occurs off the west coast of Namibia and South Africa.

References

• Kilburn, R.N. (1985). Turridae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) of southern Africa and Mozambique. Part 2. Subfamily Clavatulinae. Ann. Natal Mus. 26(2), 417-470
• Branch, G.M. et al. (2002). Two Oceans. 5th impression. David Philip, Cate Town & Johannesburg.

Notes and References

1. P. Bouchet . Yu. I. Kantor . A. Sysoev . N. Puillandre . 2011 . A new operational classification of the Conoidea (Gastropoda) . . 77 . 3 . 273–308 . 10.1093/mollus/eyr017. free .
2. Davies O., 1973. Pleistocene shorelines in the western Cape and South West Africa. Ann. Natal Mus. 21 (3): 719-765
3. Krige, A. V. 1927. An examination of the Tertiary and Ouaternary changes of sea-level in South Africa. Ann. Univ. Stellenbosch. 5A (1): 1–81.
4. https://archive.org/details/manualconch06tryorich G.W. Tryon (1884) Manual of Conchology, structural and systematic, with illustrations of the species, vol. VI; Philadelphia, Academy of Natural Sciences