Coelotrochus chathamensis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coelotrochus chathamensis |
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| Drawing of a shell of Coelotrochus chathamensis | |
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Coelotrochus chathamensis is a type of small sea snail. It's a mollusc that lives in the ocean. This snail belongs to the Trochidae family. These are often called top snails or top shells because of their shape.
Contents
About the Shell
The shell of the Coelotrochus chathamensis is quite small. It usually measures between 8 and 10 millimeters long. That's less than half an inch!
Shell Shape and Structure
The shell has a conical shape, like a cone or a spinning top. Its sides can be straight or slightly curved. The top part of the shell, called the spire, forms an angle of about 70 degrees.
The shell has five, sometimes six, main sections called whorls. These whorls are mostly flat. They have a raised edge at the top. The entire shell, including its base, has spiral lines or ridges.
The Tip of the Shell
The very tip of the snail's shell is called the protoconch. It's pointed and made of about two small whorls. These first whorls are smooth. They often have two or three spiral red bands.
The next two whorls grow quickly. They are flat or slightly curved on top. Below, they curve inward before reaching a strong ridge. The main body whorl has a clear ridge around its edge.
Shell Patterns and Texture
The shell has a special pattern, or sculpture. It has 5 to 6 low spiral threads. The edges of these threads are raised, especially the lower ones. These threads are crossed by wide, bumpy ribs. However, these ribs don't go all the way down the shell. Sometimes, these ribs are not very clear.
The lines where the whorls join are called sutures. These lines are not very deep and have a bumpy border below them.
Opening and Color
The opening of the shell is called the aperture. It is shaped like a diamond. The outer and bottom edges of this opening are slightly curved. They meet at a sharp corner.
The central pillar inside the shell is called the columella. It's slightly curved. It has a very small fold at the back. The front part is almost smooth. The small space inside the shell is smooth.
The shell's color can be white or light brown. It often has pink or brownish-purple stripes or spots. The flat bottom of the shell is white. It has broken pink spiral lines.
Where They Live
This sea snail lives only in New Zealand. You can find it around the Chatham Islands. It also lives near the southern North Island, the Stewart Islands, and the Auckland Islands.
See also
In Spanish: Thoristella chathamensis para niños
