Odontotrochus chlorostomus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Odontotrochus chlorostomus |
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| Drawing with two views of a shell of Odontotrochus chlorostomus | |
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Odontotrochus chlorostomus is a type of sea snail. It is a marine mollusk that belongs to the Trochidae family, also known as the top snails. This snail was first described in 1843.
This sea snail has a few different common names. People sometimes call it Bland's top shell, floral top shell, Freycinet's top shell, red kelp shell, or Tate's top shell.
About the Shell
The shell of an adult Odontotrochus chlorostomus can be anywhere from 20 mm to 30 mm long. That's about the size of a large coin!
Its shell is strong and shaped like a cone or a tall spinning top. The first few spirals, called whorls, are red. The rest are reddish-brown, sometimes with a bit of olive-green, and have small white spots.
The shell has spiral ridges that are often tiny and whitish. It usually has 8 or 9 flat or slightly curved spirals. Each spiral has a sharp edge that sticks out a little above the seam where the spirals join.
The top of each spiral has 10 to 12 thin, slightly raised lines. These lines also show strong, slanted growth marks between them. The bottom of the shell is flat. It has about 10 thin, circular lines that also show strong, regular lines radiating outwards.
The opening of the shell, called the aperture, is slanted and shaped like a diamond. It shines with rainbow colors inside and has grooves. The edges of the opening are green. They have small folds or teeth inside. The central pillar inside the shell, called the columella, is green and curved. It ends with a strong tooth at its bottom.
Where It Lives
This marine snail lives only in Australia. You can find it off the coasts of South Australia and Western Australia.
