Filodrillia ornata facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Filodrillia ornata
A shell of Filodrillia ornata
Scientific classification

The Filodrillia ornata is a type of sea snail. It is a marine gastropod mollusk that belongs to the family Borsoniidae. These fascinating creatures live in the ocean.

About the Filodrillia ornata Snail

This small snail has a shell that is usually about 7.5 millimeters (about 0.3 inches) long. Its width is around 3.0 millimeters (about 0.12 inches). The shell is quite strong and has a shape that looks a bit like a tower. It is a uniform buff color, which means it's a pale yellowish-brown.

Shell Features

The shell of the Filodrillia ornata has six rounded sections called whorls. These whorls stack up, starting from a small, rounded tip called the protoconch.

The shell also has special patterns, or "sculpture." There are flattened areas with tiny spiral lines. Other parts of the shell have sharp, raised cords that wrap around. These cords are thinner than the spaces between them. They are larger and wider apart near the middle of the shell. You can find about fifteen of these cords on the main part of the shell and five on the section just before it.

There are also faint lines called radial riblets. These lines are so light that they barely show up in the grooves between the spiral cords. They form small bumps, like beads, on the spiral cords. These riblets are most noticeable on the fourth and fifth whorls. They slowly disappear as you get to the main part of the shell.

Shell Opening

The opening of the shell, called the aperture, is wide. It has a deep curve, or "sinus." The inner edge of the opening has a thin, smooth layer. The part of the shell that forms a short tube, called the siphonal canal, is short and wide.

Where They Live

The Filodrillia ornata is a marine species, meaning it lives in the ocean. It is endemic to Australia. This means it is found only in Australia and nowhere else in the world. Specifically, you can find this snail off the coast of Tasmania.