Clanculus personatus facts for kids
Clanculus personatus, also known as the masked clanculus, is a fascinating type of sea snail. It's a gastropod mollusk, which means it's a snail that lives in the ocean. This snail belongs to the family Trochidae, often called "top snails" because of their shell shape.
Quick facts for kids Clanculus personatus |
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| Drawing showing two views of a shell of Clanculus personatus | |
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Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The shell of the masked clanculus snail can grow up to about 16 millimeters (which is a bit more than half an inch). It's a strong, solid shell that looks like a low cone.
Shell Colors and Patterns
The shell is usually white. Sometimes, it has a soft pink color. You might see small pink spots near the edge of the shell. The bottom part of the shell is also white, or it might have faint pink marks around its outer edge.
Shell Shape and Texture
The shell has about five whorls, which are the turns or spirals of the shell. These whorls are slightly rounded. The first two whorls are smooth. The others have tiny, rounded bumps or granules in rows. The very edge of the last whorl is often sharply defined, like a keel on a boat.
The Opening and Base
The opening of the shell, called the aperture, is slanted. The outer and bottom edges of this opening are thick and have small teeth-like bumps inside. The central pillar of the shell, called the columella, is also slanted. It has a strong tooth-like bump near its base.
The shell also has an umbilicus, which is a small, deep hole at the very center of the base. This hole is surrounded by a ribbed edge.
Where Does It Live?
This marine snail lives only in Australia. It can be found off the coasts of South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. This means it is an endemic species, found nowhere else in the world!
