Cominella lineolata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cominella lineolata |
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| Two views of a shell of Cominella lineolata (museum specimens at Naturalis Biodiversity Center) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| (unranked): |
clade Caenogastropoda
clade Hypsogastropoda clade Neogastropoda |
| Superfamily: |
Muricoidea
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| Family: | |
| Subfamily: | |
| Tribe: |
Cominellini
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| Genus: |
Cominella
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| Species: |
C. lineolata
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| Binomial name | |
| Cominella lineolata (Lamarck, 1809)
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| Synonyms | |
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Cominella lineolata, also known as the spotted cominella, is a type of sea snail. It's a mollusc that lives in the ocean. This snail is a predator, meaning it hunts other small creatures. It belongs to the whelk family, called Buccinidae.
Contents
What Does the Spotted Cominella Look Like?
The shell of the spotted cominella can be anywhere from 20 mm to 39 mm long. That's about the size of a small paperclip to a large button!
Shell Shape and Features
The shell is smooth and shaped like a spindle, which means it's wider in the middle and tapers at both ends. The top part, called the spire, is long and pointy.
At the bottom of the shell, there's a short tube called the siphonal canal. This helps the snail breathe and sense its surroundings. The opening of the shell, known as the aperture, is oval and quite large.
Colors and Patterns
The outer edge of the shell's opening, called the lip, has deep violet lines. These lines are crossed by white ones, making a cool pattern.
Inside the shell, a smooth part called the columella is bright yellow. The edge of the right lip is also yellow.
On the outside, the shell is a greenish-brown color with black bands. These bands are neat and evenly spaced. You can usually see six to eight of these bands on the main part of the shell.
The Operculum
The snail also has a small, claw-shaped cover called an operculum. It's pointed and reddish-brown. This operculum acts like a trapdoor, protecting the snail when it pulls itself into its shell.
Where Does the Spotted Cominella Live?
This sea snail lives in the ocean waters around New Zealand. You can also find it off the coast of Australia in several states, including New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia.
