Mitromorpha axicostata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mitromorpha axicostata |
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| Original image of a shell of Mitromorpha axicostata | |
| Scientific classification |
Mitromorpha axicostata is a tiny sea snail that lives in the ocean. It's a type of mollusk with a shell, belonging to a group called gastropods. This special snail is part of the Mitromorphidae family.
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About the Mitromorpha axicostata Snail
This sea snail is quite small. Its shell is usually about 4.9 millimeters long. That's less than half a centimeter! The shell is shaped like a long oval.
Shell Features and Design
The shell has about six whorls, which are like the spirals or turns of a winding staircase. The very tip of the shell, called the protoconch, has about two and a half smooth, rounded turns.
The main part of the shell, called the spire, has slightly rounded whorls. There's a simple line, or suture, where each whorl joins the next. This line has a flat, narrow band along its edge.
Opening and Lips
The opening of the shell, known as the aperture, is also shaped like a long oval. It narrows slightly into a short, open tube called a siphonal canal. This canal helps the snail breathe and filter water.
The outer edge of the opening is called the outer lip. It's thin and rounded. Just below where it meets the top of the shell, there's a small dip. The inner lip is smooth and has a thin, shiny layer.
Shell Patterns and Colors
The shell has interesting patterns, like slanted, rounded ridges called axial ribs. These ribs are about as wide as the spaces between them. They are not found at the very bottom of the shell and fade away near the opening.
There are also flat, rounded lines that spiral around the shell. These lines are wider than the spaces between them and cross over the ribs. On the main body of the shell, you can find about 25 of these spiral lines.
When the shell is fresh, it has a brownish band around the middle. This band is less noticeable in the spaces between the ribs. On the upper parts of the shell, the ribs might have small dots. The spiral lines at the base of the shell can also have curved lines of dots.
Where Mitromorpha axicostata Lives
This marine snail is found only in Australia. It lives off the coast of South Australia. This means it is endemic to that area, so you won't find it naturally anywhere else in the world!
