Clanculus aloysii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clanculus aloysii |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Drawing showing two views of a shell of Clanculus aloysii | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Clanculus aloysii is a type of small sea snail. It lives in the ocean. This snail is a mollusk, which means it has a soft body. It belongs to a group called top snails. These snails are known for their cone-shaped shells.
Shell Description
The shell of Clanculus aloysii is quite small. It usually measures about 8 to 9 millimeters tall. Its width is around 9 to 11 millimeters. The shell looks like a cone. It has a special ridge, making it "carinated." It also has a small hole at the bottom, called an "umbilicus."
The shell's color is often whitish or light brown. It has cool zigzag stripes on top. These stripes can be sepia or black. Sometimes, the stripes break into small dots. The bottom of the shell is usually plain white. It might have a few black dots. The ridge around the edge has a line of black spots.
The top part of the shell is called the spire. It is mostly straight and pointy. It has about six turns, or whorls. These turns are separated by grooves called sutures. The top surface of the shell has about six bumpy ridges. The first and last ridges are the most noticeable.
The bottom of the shell is slightly curved. It has 6 to 7 bumpy ridges that go in circles. The opening of the shell is shaped like a diamond. The outer edge of the opening is shiny. It has small folds inside. The bottom edge is rounded and has tiny teeth. The central pillar inside the shell is called the columella. It is mostly straight. It has two small bumps at its base. The umbilicus, the small hole, is usually white inside. It does not go very deep into the shell.
Where It Lives
This sea snail lives only in Australia. You can find it off the coasts of New South Wales, Tasmania, and Victoria.
