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Austrocochlea zeus facts for kids

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Austrocochlea zeus
Austrocochlea zeus 001.jpg
Drawing with three views of a shell of Austrocochlea zeus
Scientific classification
Synonyms
  • Austrocochlea (Chlorodiloma) zeus (P. Fischer, 1874)
  • Chrysostoma zeus (P. Fischer, 1874)
  • Trochus zeus P; Fischer, 1874

Austrocochlea zeus, also called the dory austrocochlea, is a type of sea snail. It is a gastropod mollusk that lives in the ocean. This snail belongs to the family Trochidae, which are often called "top snails" because of their cone-like shell shape.

About the Shell

The shell of the Austrocochlea zeus can grow up to 16 millimeters (about 0.6 inches) tall and 19 millimeters (about 0.75 inches) wide. It is a thick shell and does not have a hole (it's imperforate).

The very top part of the shell, called the apex, is short and looks a bit bumpy. The line where the different spirals, or whorls, of the shell join is clearly marked. There are usually 4 to 5 whorls, and they are slightly curved.

The shell has slanted lines and spiral grooves on its surface. The largest spiral, called the body whorl, is big and round. It has a slight angle at the top and a border along the seam. The shell is white with wavy red lines that spread out from the center. The bottom part of the shell is also curved.

The opening of the shell, called the aperture, is round. Inside the opening, the central pillar, known as the columella, has a small tooth-like bump at its base. The thick area around this central pillar is a whitish-green color. The outer edge of the opening, or lip, is also thick.

Where It Lives

This sea snail is endemic to Australia. This means it is found only in Australia and nowhere else in the world. Specifically, it lives off the coast of Western Australia.

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