Asperdaphne ula facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Asperdaphne ula |
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Asperdaphne ula is a type of sea snail. It's a marine gastropod (a kind of snail) and a mollusk (a soft-bodied animal, often with a shell). This snail belongs to the Raphitomidae family.
The scientist Robert Boog Watson first described this snail in 1881. Its name, ula, comes from a Greek word meaning 'crisp'. This name was chosen because of the snail's unique shell texture.
This snail was first found north east of New Zealand at 37°34′S 179°22′E / 37.567°S 179.367°E. It lives deep in the ocean, about 700 fathoms (which is about 1,280 meters or 4,200 feet) below the surface.
Contents
What Does Asperdaphne ula Look Like?
The shell of the Asperdaphne ula snail is somewhat short and shaped like a spindle. It has a slightly angled appearance.
Shell Features
The shell has faint ribs and strong spiral threads. These threads are like raised lines that wrap around the shell. The front part of the shell, called the snout, is short and wide.
There are many fine, hair-like lines on the shell. These are growth lines, showing how the shell grew over time. There are also many thin spiral threads. Some of these threads are stronger, especially those around the angled part of the shell.
Unique Texture
These stronger threads have tiny, round bumps called granules. These granules become small, noticeable bumps where they cross the faint ribs. The entire surface of the shell is covered in tiny granules. This gives the shell a special 'crisp' or slightly 'frosted' look. This unique texture is why the snail was given the name ula.
The shell is a see-through, flinty white color.
Shell Shape and Whorls
The top part of the shell, called the spire, is shaped like a cone. The very first part of the shell, called the protoconch, has two tiny, round embryonic whorls (sections).
The shell usually has about five and a half whorls in total. These whorls are short and wide, and they grow slowly. Each whorl has a sloping 'shoulder' and a sharp, angled edge.
The opening of the shell, called the aperture, is quite large. It's shaped a bit like a pear with three angles at the top. At the bottom, it extends into a wide, open canal. The outer edge of the opening is thin and angled.
Where Does Asperdaphne ula Live?
This marine snail is found only in New Zealand. This means it is endemic to New Zealand and doesn't naturally live anywhere else in the world.
