Lunella smaragda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lunella smaragda |
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| A shell of an adult Lunella smaragda | |
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The Lunella smaragda, often called the cat's eye snail, is a type of sea snail. It is a marine mollusk that belongs to the Turbinidae family, also known as the turban snails. These snails get their common name from a special part of their body that looks a bit like a cat's eye.
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About the Cat's Eye Snail
This snail has a unique "door" called an operculum, which is usually green. This operculum is a hard, protective plate that the snail uses to close off its shell opening. The shell of the cat's eye snail can be anywhere from about 35 mm (1.4 inches) to 70 mm (2.8 inches) in size.
What Does the Shell Look Like?
The shell of the Lunella smaragda is strong and shaped like a spiral. It is covered with a dark, tough outer layer. Underneath this layer, the shell is green. The very top part of the shell, called the apex, is often worn down.
The shell has about 4 to 5 spiral turns, called whorls. The upper turns might have grooves or ridges. The largest turn, called the body whorl, is quite big and flat on top. It has small lines from how the shell grew.
The opening of the shell, called the aperture, is large and round. Inside, it looks shiny and pearly white. The outer edge of the opening is thin and has a black border. The inner part of the opening, called the columella, is curved and also pearly.
Why is it Called "Cat's Eye"?
The name "cat's eye" comes from the snail's operculum. This part looks like an eye and has attractive colors. People sometimes use these opercula for decorations or in jewelry. The operculum is flat on the inside and has four spiral turns. The outside is a deep green, but the side where it grows is white. It also has tiny, scattered bumps.
Where Do Cat's Eye Snails Live?
The Lunella smaragda is a species that lives only in New Zealand. You can find these snails on rocky shores and soft seabeds. They live in the intertidal zone, which is the area between high and low tide marks. They also live in the low subtidal zone, which is just below the low tide mark.
These snails are found around the North, South, and Stewart islands of New Zealand. They like to live on rocks that are exposed during low tide and covered during mid-tide.
