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Comitas latiaxialis facts for kids

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Comitas latiaxialis
Comitas latiaxialis 001.jpg
Original image of a shell of Comitas latiaxialis
Scientific classification
Synonyms

Surcula latiaxialis P. Marshall, 1918

Comitas latiaxialis was a type of sea snail that lived long ago and is now extinct. It was a mollusc (like a snail or clam) that lived in the ocean. This ancient sea snail belonged to a group called gastropods, which includes all snails and slugs. It was part of the Pseudomelatomidae family.

What Was Comitas latiaxialis?

Comitas latiaxialis was a fascinating sea snail that lived in the ocean many millions of years ago. We know about it today because its fossil shells have been found. These fossils help scientists learn about life on Earth in the past.

What Did Its Shell Look Like?

The shell of Comitas latiaxialis was about 34 millimeters (about 1.3 inches) long and 11 millimeters (about 0.4 inches) wide. It had a spindle-like shape, meaning it was wider in the middle and tapered at both ends.

The shell had a tall, pointed top part called a spire. This spire was made up of five whorls, which are the turns or coils of the shell. These whorls were quite rounded or bulging.

The opening of the shell, called the aperture, was a bit longer than the spire. It was oval-shaped but stretched out towards the front. Inside the opening, there was a central pillar called the columella, which was slightly swollen where the opening narrowed.

Shell Decorations

The shell had cool decorations! It had seven strong ridges running along each whorl. These ridges are called "axial ribs" because they run lengthwise, like the axis of the shell. They reached all the way to the front edge of each whorl.

The shell also had many fine lines that spiraled around it. These "spiral lines" crossed over the axial ribs and other parts of the shell. They were thinner and closer together near the back of the whorl. Where they crossed the axial ribs, they were a bit thicker.

There were also irregular growth lines on the shell. These lines showed that the snail had a shallow "anal sinus." This is a small notch or curve on the outer edge of the shell's opening, which helped the snail get rid of waste.

Where Did Comitas latiaxialis Live?

This ancient marine snail lived only in New Zealand. Scientists have found its fossils in old rock layers from the Tertiary period. These fossils were discovered at a place called Pakaurangi Point, which is in the Kaipara Harbour area of New Zealand. Finding fossils in specific locations helps us understand where these creatures once lived.

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