Benthofascis otwayensis facts for kids

Benthofascis otwayensis was a type of sea snail that lived long ago in the ocean. It is now extinct, meaning it no longer exists on Earth. This snail was a marine gastropod, which is a group of mollusks that includes snails and slugs. It belonged to a family of snails called Conorbidae.

What it Looked Like

Scientists first thought Benthofascis otwayensis was just a smaller version of another snail called Benthofascis atractoides. But they later found it was its own unique species. One way to tell them apart was that Benthofascis otwayensis had a wider body.

It also lived during a much older time period. Benthofascis otwayensis lived during the Oligocene epoch. This was a time millions of years ago. Benthofascis atractoides lived later, during the Miocene epoch.

Where it Lived

This extinct sea snail lived only in the ocean waters around what is now Victoria, Australia. It lived there during the Oligocene epoch, which was about 23 to 34 million years ago. Since it is extinct, you won't find any Benthofascis otwayensis snails alive today.