Eucithara miriamica facts for kids
Eucithara miriamica is a tiny sea snail, a type of marine mollusk that lives in the ocean. It belongs to a family of snails called Mangeliidae. These small snails are known for their interesting shell shapes and patterns.
Quick facts for kids Eucithara miriamica |
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| Original image of a shell of Eucithara miriamica | |
| Scientific classification |
About Its Shell
The shell of Eucithara miriamica is quite small, usually about 4.5 millimeters long and 2 millimeters wide. That's less than half a centimeter!
Its shell is strong and shaped like a cylinder that narrows towards the top. It often has a reddish-brown color, called ferruginous, with a bright orange band around its "shoulder" (the wider part). Some shells might be completely orange, except for a thick ridge called a varix, which stays reddish-brown.
The shell has 7 whorls (these are the spirals or turns of the shell). The very first 2.5 whorls, called the protoconch (the "baby" part of the shell), are smooth at first. Then, they get tiny, curved lines called riblets.
The main part of the shell has 8 to 9 strong, raised ridges called ribs. These ribs are crossed by thin, raised lines that go around the shell, known as spiral threads. There are about twenty of these threads on the largest part of the shell (the body whorl) and six on the whorl just before it. The whole shell also has very fine lines of tiny bumps, like grains.
The opening of the shell, called the aperture, has a strong varix (a thickened lip) around it. This varix has a curved dip, or sinus, and two small bumps, or tubercles, on either side of the dip. Inside the shell, near the central pillar (the columella), there is a single fold or ridge.
Where It Lives
This marine snail is endemic to Australia. This means it is only found in this part of the world. You can find Eucithara miriamica living off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
