Taranis circumflexa explained

Taranis circumflexa is an extinct species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Raphitomidae.

Description

The length of the shell attains 3.5 mm, its diameter 1.5 mm.

(Original description in French) The small shell has a turrited-conical shape with whorls that are keeled at the midpoint. The suture is deep and bordered. The surface is adorned with both axial and spiral ribs. The axial ribs are numerous, closely spaced, irregular, and very oblique, sometimes bifid. They continue onto the keel, forming a wide angle, and extend onto the ridge that borders the suture, giving the keel and ridge a crenulated appearance. The area below the keel is generally devoid of spiral threads, especially on the earlier whorls. However, on the body whorl, a very fine thread may occasionally be seen near the keel. The anterior portion of the body whorl is crossed by three widely spaced threads, with the first being the largest and separated from the keel by a wider space. Small granulations mark where these threads intersect the axial ribs. The aperture is triangular and narrows towards the front. The outer lip is simple and sinuous at the keel angle. The columella is smooth, excavated at the rear, and curves to the right at the entrance of the siphonal canal, which is fairly short and slightly bent to the left at its tip. [1]

Distribution

This extinct marine species was found in Lower Pliocene strata of Liguria, Italy.

References

Notes and References

  1. http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29848914 Hornung, A. (1920). Gastéropodes fossiles du Rio Torsero (Cériale). Pliocène inférieur de la Ligurie. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria. 49 [ser. 3, 9]: 70-92, pl. 2