Anacithara goodingii facts for kids

Anacithara goodingii is a fascinating type of sea snail. It's a small mollusk that lives in the ocean. These snails belong to a group called gastropods, which means "stomach-foot," because they move using a muscular foot under their body. Anacithara goodingii is part of the family called Horaiclavidae.

About This Snail

The shell of Anacithara goodingii is a pretty white color. It's shaped like an oval but comes to a point at one end. This snail's shell can grow up to about 7.5 millimeters long, which is less than a centimeter! It's also quite thin, measuring about 2.6 millimeters wide.

The shell has about seven whorls, which are like spiral turns that make up the shell's shape. The opening of the shell, called the aperture, is quite narrow. The edge of this opening, known as the outer lip, is a bit thicker than the rest of the shell and has a slight curve.

Near the bottom of the shell, there's a short and narrow tube called the siphonal canal. This tube helps the snail breathe and take in water.

One of the most interesting things about this snail's shell is its texture. It has fine, clear ridges, almost like folds, running all the way up its spiral shape. There are usually 9 to 10 of these ridges. If you look even closer, you'll see tiny, dense lines spiraling around the shell too.

But the most special feature of Anacithara goodingii is its unique pattern. It has a spiral line of reddish dots on its ridges. On the upper parts of the shell, you'll find two dots on each whorl. On the main, largest part of the shell, there are three of these reddish dots. These dots are what make this snail easy to identify!

Where It Lives

This marine snail is endemic to New Zealand. This means it's only found naturally in this part of the world and nowhere else! You can find Anacithara goodingii living off the coast of Ninety Mile Beach, which is located on the North Island of New Zealand.