Inquisitor lassulus facts for kids
Inquisitor lassulus is a type of sea snail. It's a small creature that lives in the ocean. These snails are a kind of mollusk, which means they have soft bodies, often protected by a shell. They belong to a group of snails called Pseudomelatomidae.
Quick facts for kids Inquisitor lassulus |
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| Original image of a shell of Inquisitor lassulus | |
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What Does It Look Like?
The shell of Inquisitor lassulus can grow up to about 13 millimeters long. That's a little over half an inch! It's also about 7 millimeters wide.
The shell is strong and a bit shiny. It has a shape like a spindle, which means it's wider in the middle and tapers at both ends. Its color is usually a light brown or cream, with patches of reddish-brown. These patches often create a checkerboard pattern.
The shell has about 10 whorls, which are the turns or spirals that make up the shell. The first two whorls are part of the snail's earliest shell, called the protoconch.
Shell Patterns
The shell has special patterns called sculpture. There's a wavy cord just below the top edge of each whorl. Below this, there's a slightly narrow area with a groove in the middle.
The shell also has strong, upright ribs. These ribs continue all the way down to the base of the shell. There are about eleven ribs on each whorl. The shell also has flat, spiral cords that run around it. These cords are more noticeable between the ribs.
The Opening
The opening of the shell, called the aperture, is narrow. The snail's last rib, or varix, is located just behind the edge of the opening.
The opening has a wide and deep notch, called the sinus. The central pillar of the shell, known as the columella, is straight. The inner edge of the opening is slightly raised. The snail also has a tube-like extension, called the siphonal canal, which is used for breathing and feeding.
Where Does It Live?
This sea snail lives only in Australia. When a species lives only in one specific area, it is called endemic. You can find Inquisitor lassulus off the coasts of the Northern Territory, Queensland, and Western Australia.
