Alcyna australis facts for kids

Alcyna australis is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Trochidae, the top snails.

Description

The size of the shell varies between 1.8 mm and 2.5 mm. The small shell has a broadly conical shape. The 4½ whorls are rounded and increase rapidly in size.

Colour: adult whorls dull white, protoconch dark purple.

Sculpture: the base is ornamented with spaced spiral grooves. These occur, but fainter, on the penultimate whorl. The protoconch, embracing 2½ whorls, is more strongly spirally furrowed. The large aperture is round. Into it projects from the columella a prominent tooth-like tubercle. The contrast in colour and sculpture between the apical and succeeding whorls distinguishes this species.

Distribution

This marine species is endemic to Australia and occurs off Queensland, West Australia Tasmania and in the Timor Sea.

• Wilson, B. 1993. Australian Marine Shells. Prosobranch Gastropods. Kallaroo, Western Australia : Odyssey Publishing Vol. 1 408 pp.