Phasianotrochus apicinus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Phasianotrochus apicinus |
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| Apertural view of a shell of Phasianotrochus apicinus | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Vetigastropoda |
| Order: | Trochida |
| Superfamily: | Trochoidea |
| Family: | Trochidae |
| Genus: | Phasianotrochus |
| Species: |
P. apicinus
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| Binomial name | |
| Phasianotrochus apicinus (Menke, 1843)
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| Synonyms | |
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The pointed kelp shell (scientific name: Phasianotrochus apicinus) is a type of sea snail. It's a small mollusk that lives in the ocean. This snail belongs to a group called Gastropoda, and its family is Trochidae, which are often called 'top snails' because of their shell shape.
Contents
What Does the Pointed Kelp Shell Look Like?
The shell of the pointed kelp snail can grow up to 20 mm tall. That's about the size of a small button! Its shell is strong and smooth. It has a long, cone-like shape.
Shell Colors and Patterns
The shell often shines with a grayish or brownish-yellow color. It has many thin, red lines running across it. These lines can sometimes be hard to see because the shell also has a golden and violet shimmer. The whole surface of the shell has tiny spiral lines. These lines are a bit rougher near the bottom of the shell.
Shell Shape and Parts
The shell has 8 to 9 sections, called whorls, which are almost flat. The top whorls are usually pink. The very top of the shell, called the spire, is pointy and straight. The lines where the whorls join, called sutures, are thin. They sometimes have a white edge.
The main part of the shell, known as the body whorl, is round at its widest point. The opening of the shell, called the aperture, is oval-shaped. It is smooth and looks beautiful and shiny on the inside. The central pillar inside the shell, called the columella, has a small, sharp bump near its middle.
Where Does the Pointed Kelp Shell Live?
This sea snail lives only in Australia. It is found in the shallow parts of the ocean. You can find it off the coasts of Victoria, Southern Australia, Western Australia, and the northern coast of Tasmania. It prefers areas that are not too deep, often in what's called the subtidal zone. This is the part of the ocean floor that is always covered by water, even at low tide.
 | Valerie Thomas |
 | Frederick McKinley Jones |
 | George Edward Alcorn Jr. |
 | Thomas Mensah |
