Mitromorpha paula facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mitromorpha paula |
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| Original image (and protoconch) of Mitromorpha paula | |
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Mitromorpha paula is a type of sea snail. It is a small marine mollusk that belongs to the group called gastropods. This snail is part of the family known as Mitromorphidae.
About the Mitromorpha Paula Snail
What Does It Look Like?
The shell of the Mitromorpha paula snail is quite small. It usually grows to about 3.8 millimeters (which is less than half a centimeter) long. The shell is also about 1.5 millimeters wide.
The shell is strong and has about 4.5 whorls. Whorls are the spiral turns that make up the snail's shell. The very first two whorls at the top are called the protoconch. These first whorls are rounded and look smooth, but under a microscope, they have tiny bumps.
The main part of the shell has eight spiral ridges, which are called lirae. These ridges are flat on top and are about half as wide as the spaces between them. The lines where the whorls meet, called sutures, are simple.
The largest part of the shell is the body whorl. This section tapers, or gets narrower, towards the front. The opening of the shell, called the aperture, is shaped like a long oval. It is quite open at the front.
The outer edge of the opening, known as the outer lip, is simple. It has small bumps that match the spiral ridges on the outside of the shell. There is a tiny, shallow curve near the top of the outer lip, close to the suture. The inner lip is covered by a thin, clear layer.
The shell's surface has about twenty-three spiral ridges. These ridges are flat on top and have faint cuts across them. The snail's shell is typically a cinnamon-brown color. It is lighter in a band around the widest part of the whorls.
Where Does It Live?
This marine snail lives only in Australia. It is found off the coast of South Australia.
