Inquisitor dampieria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Inquisitor dampieria |
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| Apertural view of a shell of Inquisitor dampieria | |
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Inquisitor dampieria is a type of sea snail. It is a marine gastropod mollusk that belongs to the Pseudomelatomidae family. These snails live in the ocean.
About the Inquisitor dampieria Snail
The shell of the Inquisitor dampieria can grow up to 30 millimeters (about 1.2 inches) long. Its widest part, called the diameter, is about 9 millimeters (about 0.35 inches).
Shell Features
This snail has a long, strong shell. It usually has a plain color, ranging from a dull brownish-gray to a reddish-brown. The shell has about 11 whorls, which are the spiral turns of the shell. The very first part of the shell, called the protoconch, has two of these turns. The outside of the shell often looks shiny.
There is a broad, slightly sunken groove on the shell called the fasciole. This groove has fine lines that show how the shell grew over time. Above this groove, there is a noticeable ridge. Below the groove and towards the front end of the shell, there are about 22 spiral lines. These lines get wider and deeper closer to the bottom of the shell.
The shell also has about 17 raised ridges, called radial ribs, on each whorl. These ribs are most noticeable on the "shoulder" of the shell and gradually fade towards the bottom. The opening of the shell, called the aperture, is shaped like a pear. The outer edge of this opening is simple. The snail has a U-shaped notch, called a sinus, which is quite large. There is also a small bump of hardened material near the opening and a separate layer of this material on the lower part of the central pillar, called the columella. The tube-like part at the front of the shell, known as the siphonal canal, is short and wide.
Where It Lives
This marine snail is found only in Australia. It lives off the coast of Western Australia.
