Daphnella stiphra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Daphnella stiphra |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Original image of a shell of Daphnella stiphra | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Daphnella (Daphnella) stiphra Verco, 1909 |
Daphnella stiphra is a type of small sea snail. It is a marine animal, meaning it lives in the ocean. This snail is a kind of gastropod, which is a group of mollusks that includes snails and slugs. Daphnella stiphra belongs to the family called Raphitomidae.
Contents
What Does Daphnella stiphra Look Like?
The shell of Daphnella stiphra is quite small. It is about 8.5 millimeters (about a third of an inch) long and 4 millimeters wide. The shell is delicate and has a shape that looks a bit like two cones joined at their bases.
Shell Features and Details
The very first part of the shell, called the protoconch, is brown. It has about four and a half turns, or whorls. The first few turns have tiny spiral lines. The rest of the protoconch looks like a crisscross pattern.
The main part of the shell has four more whorls. These turns are rounded and have deep lines, called sutures, where they join. The largest part of the shell, known as the body whorl, is swollen and narrows towards the bottom.
Opening and Sculpture
The opening of the shell, called the aperture, is shaped like an oval. The outer edge of this opening, the lip, is thin. Inside, the shell has a smooth, shiny area. The central pillar of the shell, the columella, is mostly straight.
The snail also has a short, open tube called the siphonal canal. This canal helps the snail breathe and filter water. There is a simple, rounded notch, or sinus, near the top of the aperture.
The shell has special patterns, or sculpture, on its surface. Just below the suture, there are many very fine spiral lines. Below these, there are stronger, more spaced-out spiral ridges. The body whorl has about forty of these ridges. There are also thin lines that run across the shell, creating a detailed texture.
Where Does Daphnella stiphra Live?
This sea snail is found only in Australia. It lives off the coast of South Australia. This means it is an endemic species to that area.
