kids encyclopedia robot

Clanculus consobrinus facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Clanculus consobrinus
Clanculus consobrinus 001.jpg
Drawing showing two views of a shell of Clanculus consobrinus
Scientific classification

Clanculus consobrinus is a type of sea snail. It is a marine (ocean-dwelling) gastropod, which is a kind of mollusk. This snail belongs to the Trochidae family, often called "top snails" because of their shell shape.

About the Clanculus consobrinus Shell

The shell of Clanculus consobrinus is usually between 8 mm and 13 mm long. That's about the size of a small button! The shell has a slightly flattened shape.

Colors and Patterns

The shell is typically a pretty pinkish-brown color. It has small, scattered black dots all over it.

Shell Shape and Features

The top part of the shell, called the spire, looks like a low cone. It has a pointy tip, known as the apex. The shell is made up of five whorls, which are like spirals that make up the shell. The lines between these spirals are called sutures.

The main body part of the shell (the largest spiral) is slightly angled at its widest point. The bottom of the shell is a bit rounded.

Inside the Shell: Aperture and Umbilicus

The opening of the shell, where the snail comes out, is called the aperture. It is round and slanted. The edges of this opening have small ridges or teeth.

The central pillar inside the shell is called the columella. It is slanted and has a small tooth at its base. The shell also has a wide and deep hole in the center of its base, called the umbilicus. The edge of this hole also has small teeth.

Shell Decorations

The shell has interesting patterns on its surface. The spirals near the top have four bumpy ridges, called lirae, that are evenly spaced. There are also raised lines that go across the shell. On the main body spiral, there are more of these ridges, some bumpy and some smooth. The spaces between these ridges have faint spiral lines. The base of the shell has seven more concentric ridges, some bumpy and some smooth.

Where Clanculus consobrinus Lives

This sea snail is found only in Australia. It lives off the coasts of South Australia and Western Australia.

More Information

kids search engine
Clanculus consobrinus Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.