Clanculus atypicus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clanculus atypicus |
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| Original drawing of a shell of Clanculus atypicus | |
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The Clanculus atypicus is a fascinating type of sea snail. It's a gastropod mollusk, which means it's an animal with a single shell (or sometimes no shell) that moves around on a muscular "foot." This particular snail lives in the ocean and belongs to the family Trochidae, often called "top snails" because of their cone-shaped shells. It was first described in 1912 by Tom Iredale.
What Does It Look Like?
This small, strong snail has a shell that's a bit flattened and round, like a globe. It has six whorls, which are the turns or coils of the shell. The edge of its shell is rounded, and the bottom is flat.
The shell's color is usually a dark grayish-brown, with cool yellow or light brown stripes that run diagonally across it. If you look closely, you'll see fine spiral lines and patterns on the shell, almost like tiny ridges. These patterns are called "sculpture." The main part of the shell has about eighteen of these spiral lines, while the part just before it has six. There are also very fine lines running up and down the shell.
The line where each coil of the shell joins the next is called the suture. On this snail, the suture is quite deep and looks like a channel, with a row of small bumps along its edge.
The opening of the shell, called the aperture, is shaped a bit like a square and is slanted. The outer edge of this opening, the outer lip, has tiny notches and curves slightly backward.
At the bottom of the shell, there's a deep little hole called the umbilicus. This hole is surrounded by a bumpy, thickened rim that connects to the outer lip. Inside the shell, there's a central pillar called the columella, which also has a small bump at each end.
Finally, this snail has a special "trapdoor" called an operculum. It's round, thin, and made of a horn-like material. It has many spirals, starting from the center, and helps the snail seal itself inside its shell for protection.
Where Does It Live?
The Clanculus atypicus is a marine species, meaning it lives in the ocean. It is found only in New Zealand, especially around the Kermadec Islands. This means it's "endemic" to that area, so you won't find it naturally anywhere else in the world!
