Prothalotia ramburi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prothalotia ramburi |
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| Apertural view of a shell of Prothalotia ramburi | |
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Prothalotia ramburi, also known as Rambur's jewel top shell, is a type of sea snail. It is a mollusk that lives in the ocean and belongs to the family Trochidae, which are often called top snails.
What Does Rambur's Jewel Top Shell Look Like?
The shell of the Rambur's jewel top shell can be anywhere from 7 mm to 20 mm long. It is a strong shell with no holes, and it has a pointy, cone-like shape.
The shell is usually a bright red or crimson color. It has thin, white stripes that spread out from the top, often reaching the edge of the shell. Sometimes, only the upper spirals (called whorls) show these white stripes. Near the center bottom, there's often a checkered pattern of red and white.
The top part of the shell, called the spire, is quite tall and ends in a somewhat sharp tip. The lines between the spirals are slightly pressed in. This snail typically has about 7 spirals. These spirals curve inward just below the lines and then bulge out at their edges.
The entire surface of the shell has fine spiral ridges. These ridges are about as wide as the spaces between them. These spaces also have delicate slanted lines.
The opening of the shell, called the aperture, is somewhat oval or square-shaped. Inside, it looks shiny like a rainbow. This opening is less than half the total length of the shell. The edge of the opening has a row of crimson (red) dots. Inside, there's a smooth, porcelain-like thickening with tiny bumps. The central pillar inside the shell, called the columella, is slightly curved and looks like a pearl.
Where Do These Snails Live?
This marine snail is found only in Australia. It lives off the coast of South Australia.
Images for kids
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Apertural view of a shell of Prothalotia ramburi
