Coelotrochus oppressus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coelotrochus oppressus |
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| Drawing of a shell of Coelotrochus oppressus | |
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The Coelotrochus oppressus, also known as the shouldered top shell, is a very small sea snail. It is a type of mollusc that lives in the ocean. This tiny creature belongs to the family called Trochidae, which are often known as top snails or top shells because of their cone shape.
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Discovering the Shouldered Top Shell
This fascinating sea snail was first described in 1878 by Hutton. Scientists gave it the name Coelotrochus oppressus. It has also been known by other names over time, such as Gibbula oppressa and Thoristella oppressa.
What Does This Snail Look Like?
The shell of the shouldered top shell is quite small. It usually grows to about 5.5 millimeters long and 6 millimeters wide. That's less than a quarter of an inch!
The shell has a cone shape and feels quite solid. It doesn't shine much, and it has a special feature called a "false umbilicus." This is a small pit or opening near the base of the shell.
Shell Patterns and Colors
If you look closely, the entire surface of the shell has very fine lines that spiral around it. These lines become a bit rougher near the center of the shell's base.
The shell's color is usually a dark olive-brown or greenish. It often has tiny, slightly darker patches of the same color all over, making it look like a mini checkerboard.
The very first part of the shell, called the protoconch (the "baby shell"), is cone-shaped with two slightly spiraled sections. The main part of the shell, called the teleoconch, has five turns or "whorls." These turns have a ridge or "keel" above the middle. The largest turn at the bottom of the shell has two distinct angles. The base of the shell is quite flat.
Where Do These Snails Live?
The shouldered top shell is a marine species, meaning it lives in the ocean. It is found only in New Zealand, making it an endemic animal there. You can find it living off the coast of New Zealand's North Island.
See Also
- In Spanish: Thoristella oppressa para niños
Images for kids
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Drawing of a shell of Coelotrochus oppressus
