Zafra selasphora explained

Zafra selasphora is a species of sea snail in the family Columbellidae, the dove snails.

Description

The shell grows to a length of 3.5 mm, its diameter 1.5 mm.

This minute, ovate species contains 6-7 whorls. It is principally conspicuous for its smooth longitudinal ribs, with no revolving lines, the ribs themselves being often obsolete on the body whorl, wholly or, at all events, in part. The beautiful zigzag painting, like lightning-flashes, is also characteristic. The oblong aperture is narrow. The outer lip is slightly incrassate with few denticles inside.The simple columella is shining. ^[1]

Distribution

This species is distributed in the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and in the Indian Ocean along the Aldabra Atoll

References

• Taylor, J.D. (1973). Provisional list of the mollusca of Aldabra Atoll.
• Streftaris, N.; Zenetos, A.; Papathanassiou, E. (2005). Globalisation in marine ecosystems: the story of non-indigenous marine species across European seas. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Annu. Rev. 43: 419–453
• Boyer, F., Pelorce, J. & Gori, S. (2022). Révision des Columbellidae de l'île de Masirah, Oman. Partie 1 : genres Smithena gen. nov., Anachis H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853, Zafra A. Adams, 1860 et Parvanachis Radwin, 1968. Novapex. 23(3): 87-110.
• Kilburn R.N. & Marais J.P. (2010) Columbellidae. Pp. 60-104, in: Marais A.P. & Seccombe A.D. (eds), Identification guide to the seashells of South Africa. Volume 1. Groenkloof: Centre for Molluscan Studies. 376 pp

External links

• Katsanevakis, S.; Bogucarskis, K.; Gatto, F.; Vandekerkhove, J.; Deriu, I.; Cardoso A.S. (2012). Building the European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN): a novel approach for the exploration of distributed alien species data. BioInvasions Records. 1: 235-245
• Zenetos, A.; Çinar, M.E.; Pancucci-Papadopoulou, M.A.; Harmelin, J.-G.; Furnari, G.; Andaloro, F.; Bellou, N.; Streftaris, N.; Zibrowius, H. (2005). Annotated list of marine alien species in the Mediterranean with records of the worst invasive species. Mediterranean Marine Science. 6 (2): 63-118.
• Zenetos, A.; Gofas, S.; Verlaque, M.; Cinar, M.; Garcia Raso, J.; Bianchi, C.; Morri, C.; Azzurro, E.; Bilecenoglu, M.; Froglia, C.; Siokou, I.; Violanti, D.; Sfriso, A.; San Martin, G.; Giangrande, A.; Katagan, T.; Ballesteros, E.; Ramos-Espla, A.; Mastrototaro, F.; Ocana, O.; Zingone, A.; Gambi, M.; Streftaris, N. (2010). Alien species in the Mediterranean Sea by 2010. A contribution to the application of European Union's Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Part I. Spatial distribution. Mediterranean Marine Science. 11(2): 381-493
• Galil, B. (2007). Seeing Red: Alien species along the Mediterranean coast of Israel. Aquatic Invasions. 2(4): 281-312

Notes and References

1. https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/31888798 Melvill, J. C. & Standen, R. (1901). The Mollusca of the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Arabian Seas as evidenced mainly through the collections of Mr. F. W. Townsend, 1893-1900, with descriptions of new species. Part 1, Cephalopoda, Gastropoda, Scaphopoda. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 1901 (2): 327-460.