Conotalopia henniana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Conotalopia henniana |
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| A view of the Conotalopia henniana shell from its opening | |
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Minolia henniana Melvill, 1891 |
Conotalopia henniana is a very tiny sea snail. It's a type of mollusk that lives in the ocean. These small creatures are also known as gastropods. They belong to a group called Trochidae, which are often called "top snails" because of their shell shape.
About the Shell
The shell of Conotalopia henniana is quite small. It's about 3.25 millimeters (a little over 1/8 inch) tall and 4.5 millimeters (about 3/16 inch) wide. Its shape is like a flattened cone, and it has a deep hole in the center of its base, which is called an umbilicus.
The shell has five turns, or whorls. If you look very closely, you can see tiny patterns on its surface. These patterns are called sculpture. They look like fine lines that go outwards from the center and also spiral around the shell. These patterns are easier to see on the bottom part of the shell.
The color of the shell can change. Some shells have brown patterns that look like flames on a grey background. Others might have brick-red flame patterns. Sometimes, these flame patterns can even break up into small checkerboard shapes.
Where It Lives
This sea snail lives only in the ocean. It is endemic to Australia, which means it's found naturally nowhere else in the world. You can find Conotalopia henniana on sandy beaches off the coast of Queensland, a state in Australia.
