Vexillum exquisitum explained

Vexillum exquisitum is a species of small sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Costellariidae, the ribbed miters.

Description

The length of the shell varies between 5 mm and 8 mm.

(Original description) The small shell is oblong, subfusiform, glassy, hyaline. It is pinkish red, with two transverse brown lines enclosing a white band, the band and one line continued up the spire. The spire is ratber short, turreted, subacute, little more than half the length of the shell. The shell contains 9 whorls (3 of which are embryonal), plano-convex, shouldered above, the body whorl rounded, much contracted aud granulated at the base, which is produced in a short slightly twisted siphonal canal. The shell is longitudinally ribbed, ribs closely set, rather large, angular, slightly nodulose above, 12 to 13 in number. The interstices are transversely impressedly striated. The aperture is narrow. The outer lip is rather thin, notched above, and slightly sinuous. The columella has four folds. [1]

The small, stout shell has a fusiform shape. The whorls show prominent, rounded shoulders and a series of strong axial ribs. The columella has four plaits. The shells of living examples have two dark-brown spiral lines on thebody whorl that enclose a milk-white band. [2]

Distribution

This marine species occurs off the Tuamotu Islands, Tahiti, Cook Islands, Samoa and Fiji.

A fossil has been found in Holocene strata on Eniwetok Atol, Marshall Islands.

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/28612317 Garrett, A. (1873). List of species of Mitridae collected at Rarotonga, Cook's Islands, with notes, also descriptions of new species. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 1872: 839-843
  2. https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/pp533 Ladd, H.S. (1977). Cenozoic fossil mollusks from western Pacific islands; Gastropods (Eratoidae through Harpidae). U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper. 533: i–iv, 1–84, pls 1–23