Falsimargarita iris explained

Falsimargarita iris is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calliostomatidae.[1] [2]

Description

The height of the shell attains 20 mm. The thin, whitish, opalescent shell has a depressed turbinate shape. It is narrowly umbilicate. It contains 5 whorls. The apical whorls is smooth, glossy, rounded and opaque white. The other whorls are rather convex. They are ornamented with spiral thread-like cords, four on the second whorl. about six or seven on the next, eight or nine on the penultimate whorl, and about forty on the body whorl. The threads vary in thickness, some being very much more slender than the others. The body whorl is obtusely subangled at the periphery. In the umbilical region it is opaque white and smooth except for some growth lines. The whole surface of the shell exhibits curved lines of growth, but they are not strong enough to make the spiral lirae distinctly granose. The large aperture is subcircular and pearly within. The outer lip is thin. The white columella is obliquely arcuate, thickened, reflexed, and appressed to the umbilical region. This last characteristic is a peculiar feature.[3]

Distribution

This marine species occurs in the Atlantic Ocean off Argentina and the Falkland Islands at depths between 10 m and 461 m.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Bouchet, P. (2012). Falsimargarita iris (E.A. Smith, 1915). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=567186 on 2012-12-07
  2. Dell, R. K. (1990). Antarctic Mollusca with special reference to the fauna of the Ross Sea. Bulletin of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Wellington 27: 1–311
  3. https://archive.org/details/naturalhistoryre02brit Smith, E. A. 1915. Mollusca. Part I.--Gastropoda Prosobranchia, Scaphopoda, and Pelecypoda. British Antarctic ("Terra Nova") Expedition, 1910. Natural History Report. Zoology 2: 61-112, pls. 1-2. British Museum (Natural History): London