Leiocithara infulata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leiocithara infulata |
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| Original image of a shell of Leiocithara infulata | |
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Leiocithara infulata is a tiny sea snail that lives in the ocean. It's a type of gastropod, which means "stomach-foot" because of how they move! This snail belongs to a larger group of animals called mollusks. It is part of the family called Mangeliidae.
Shell Description
This snail has a very small shell. It is usually about 3.5 millimeters long and 1.7 millimeters wide. That's less than half a centimeter!
Its shell is very strong. It is shaped a bit like two cones joined at their wide ends. It has a sharp angle near the top, like a shoulder. The shell is usually white or light brown. Sometimes it has thin darker brown stripes.
The shell has five whorls, which are the spiral turns of the shell. The first two whorls are called the protoconch. These are smooth and rounded. The largest whorl, called the body whorl, makes up about two-thirds of the shell's total length.
Shell Patterns
The shell has interesting patterns, or "sculpture." On the main body whorl, there are eight thick, raised lines. These lines go up and down, like ribs. They start from the top edge of the shell and fade away towards the bottom.
Around the "shoulder" of the shell, these ribs connect to a spiral cord. This cord is almost as thick as the ribs. On the whorl just before the body whorl, these patterns repeat. However, the ribs are smaller and closer together.
The shell generally looks smooth. But if you look closely, you might see some faint spiral lines near the base. Even fainter scratches can be seen across the rest of the shell.
Shell Opening
The opening of the shell is called the aperture. It is quite narrow. A thick, raised ridge, called a varix, protects this opening. At the front of the opening, there's a curved dip. After this dip, you can find a small bump on each side.
The snail also has a short, wide tube called a siphonal canal. This canal helps the snail breathe and sense its surroundings.
Where It Lives
This marine snail is endemic to Australia. This means it is found naturally only in this region. You can find Leiocithara infulata off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
