Daphnella botanica facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Daphnella botanica |
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| Original image of a shell of Daphnella botanica | |
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Daphnella botanica, also known as the botanic turrid or Botany Bay turrid, is a type of sea snail. It is a marine gastropod mollusk belonging to the family Raphitomidae. These snails are found in the ocean.
Contents
What Does the Botanic Turrid Look Like?
The shell of the Botanic Turrid can grow up to 26 millimeters (about 1 inch) long. Its width is usually around 7 millimeters.
Shell Shape and Texture
The shell is shaped like an oval and is quite thin. It can even be a bit see-through. The largest part of the shell is called the body whorl. The entire shell has a detailed pattern of fine, raised lines. These lines cross each other, making a net-like design. The lines that go around the shell are usually stronger than the ones that go up and down.
Shell Color
The shell often has a buff (light yellowish-brown) background color. On top of this, it has irregular cloudy or mottled patches of dark brown. Sometimes, the dark brown areas cover most of the shell.
Whorls and Opening
The shell has six main whorls (the spiral turns of the shell), plus a small tip called the protoconch. These whorls are rounded and spiral upwards. The opening of the shell, called the aperture, is large and shaped like an oval. It is about half the length of the entire shell. The outer edge of this opening, called the lip, is thin and curves forward. There is also a deep, wide notch on the lip.
The surface of the shell has many spiral threads. There are also small, sharp radial lines that cross over these spirals. Where these lines meet, they form tiny beads. These patterns cover the whole shell.
Where Does the Botanic Turrid Live?
This marine snail lives only in Australia. It is found off the coasts of New South Wales, Tasmania, and Western Australia. When an animal or plant lives only in one specific area, it is called endemic to that place.
