Cantharidus fulminatus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cantharidus fulminatus |
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| Drawing of a shell of Cantharidus fulminatus | |
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The Cantharidus fulminatus is a type of small marine snail. It is a species of gastropod mollusc. This means it belongs to the same group of animals as slugs and other snails. It is part of the Trochidae family, which are often called "top shells" because of their cone shape.
About This Snail's Shell
The shell of the Cantharidus fulminatus is quite small. It usually measures about 7.5 millimeters, which is less than half an inch. It has a rounded, cone-like shape and is very shiny and solid. The shell is mostly smooth, but it has a few small ridges around a tiny hole called the umbilicus.
Colors and Patterns
This snail's shell comes in many beautiful colors. You might find it in shades of pink, orange, purple, or olive-brown. It often has interesting patterns. For example, there might be a line of white blotches alternating with darker spots just below the suture (the line where the shell's spirals meet).
You might also see a band of white blotches around the middle of the shell. Sometimes, there are also white spots around the umbilicus. The areas between these white spots can have darker zigzag streaks or be a solid color. The very tip of the shell, called the apex, is often a rosy pink color.
Shell Shape and Parts
The shell has a short spire, which is the pointed top part. It has about five rounded sections that spiral upwards. These sections are called whorls.
The opening of the shell, called the aperture, looks somewhat square and rounded. Inside, it has a rainbow-like shine. The edge of the opening, known as the lip, is white. The central pillar inside the shell, called the columella, is slightly curved.
Where It Lives
The Cantharidus fulminatus is a shallow water snail. This means it lives in the parts of the ocean that are not very deep. You can only find this specific snail off the Chatham Islands in New Zealand.
