Inquisitor mastersi facts for kids

Inquisitor mastersi is a type of sea snail. It's a small mollusk that lives in the ocean, belonging to a group called gastropods. These snails are part of the family Pseudomelatomidae.

About This Snail

Inquisitor mastersi is a fascinating sea snail. It has a unique shell that helps it survive in its ocean home.

What It Looks Like

The shell of Inquisitor mastersi is a reddish-brown color. It's quite solid and has a slightly flattened shape at the top. The shell has about 8 whorls, which are like the spirals or turns you see on a snail shell.

The middle part of the upper whorls has small bumps, called tubercles, and is spotted with white. The last part of the shell has ribs that run lengthwise. Near the top, these bumps can look a bit prickly. The lines between the whorls (called the suture) have tiny spiral patterns.

The opening of the shell, where the snail comes out, is called the lip. This lip is simple and brownish in the middle. It has a special curve or notch called a sinus, which is deep and wide. This sinus is important for the snail's breathing. The snail also has a very short and wide siphonal canal, which is like a tube it uses to draw in water.

Where It Lives

This sea snail is endemic to Australia. This means it is found naturally only in Australia and nowhere else in the world. You can find Inquisitor mastersi living off the coasts of the Northern Territory and Queensland.