Phasianotrochus bellulus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Phasianotrochus bellulus |
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| Apertural view of a shell of Phasianotrochus bellulus | |
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The necklace shell, officially known as Phasianotrochus bellulus, is a fascinating type of sea snail. It's a mollusk that lives in the ocean, belonging to a group called gastropods. These snails are part of the family Trochidae, which are often called "top snails" because of their cone-like shape.
What Does It Look Like?
The shell of the necklace shell can be anywhere from 12 to 18 millimeters tall. That's about half an inch to three-quarters of an inch! It's a strong, solid shell that doesn't have any holes. Its shape is like a long cone, and it has a shiny, polished surface.
The shell usually comes in shades of gray or pink. It often has a few orange lines that spiral around it. On the second-to-last whorl (which is one of the turns of the shell), you'll usually see two of these orange lines. The spaces between these lines are decorated with short, white, curved marks. These marks often appear in pairs, sometimes looking like a figure-eight pattern.
The shell has about eight whorls (or turns), and they are mostly flat. The largest, lowest part of the shell, called the body whorl, is nicely rounded at its edge. The top, pointy part of the shell, known as the spire, gets thinner as it reaches the very tip, or apex, which is often purplish.
The opening of the shell, called the aperture, is quite small and narrow. Inside, it has grooves and a beautiful rainbow-like shimmer, which is called being iridescent. The central pillar inside the shell, known as the columella, has strong tooth-like bumps at its bottom.
The color pattern of the necklace shell is very unique and usually stays the same. The inside of the opening has deeper grooves compared to other similar snails, showing about six folds. The edges of the opening, called the lip, have a slightly thickened, porcelain-like rim with small tooth-like bumps. This rim stops just before the very top of the outer lip.
Where Does It Live?
This marine snail is found only in Australia. It lives in the shallow subtidal zones, which are areas of the ocean floor that are always covered by water, even at low tide. You can find the necklace shell off the coasts of Victoria, Southwest Australia, and Tasmania.
