Filodrillia haswelli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Filodrillia haswelli |
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| Original image of a shell of Filodrillia haswelli | |
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The Filodrillia haswelli is a type of sea snail. It's a marine gastropod (which means "stomach foot") mollusk that belongs to the family Borsoniidae.
What Does It Look Like?
This small sea snail has a shell that is about 5.5 millimeters long and 1 millimeter wide. That's really tiny, less than a quarter of an inch!
The shell has a spindle-like shape, meaning it's wider in the middle and tapers at both ends. It's quite thin and a bit see-through. The shell has about 5 and a half spirals, or turns. The first two spirals form a shiny, dome-shaped tip called a protoconch. The rest of the spirals are a bit puffy, with pinched-in lines where they join, and a hollowed-out bottom.
The shell is a chalky white color and looks shiny when it's fresh. It has fine spiral lines, with one line being a bit more noticeable, creating a slight angle on the shoulder of the shell. These spirals are crossed by curved growth lines, which show how the snail grew over time.
The opening of the shell, called the aperture, goes up slightly. It's narrow at the top and rounded inside, with a deep notch. On the outside, it has a thick ridge for protection. There's also a thin, smooth layer on the inner edge of the opening. The snail has a short, wide tube called a siphonal canal, which it uses for breathing.
Where Does It Live?
This marine snail is found only in Australia. It lives off the coasts of New South Wales, Tasmania, and Victoria. When an animal or plant is found only in one specific area, it is called endemic to that place.
