Pseudorhaphitoma transitans facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pseudorhaphitoma transitans |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Original image of a shell of Pseudorhaphitoma transitans | |
| Scientific classification |
Pseudorhaphitoma transitans is a very small sea snail. It is a type of gastropod mollusk that lives in the ocean. This tiny creature belongs to a group of snails called the Mangeliidae family.
Contents
Discovering the Pseudorhaphitoma transitans
This interesting sea snail was first described in 1922. A scientist named Hedley gave it its official name.
What Does This Snail Look Like?
The shell of the Pseudorhaphitoma transitans is quite small. It usually grows to about 4 millimeters long. That's less than half a centimeter! Its width is about 1.5 millimeters.
The shell is strong and shaped like a cone. It has a pale, light brown color all over. This snail's shell has seven whorls, which are the spiral turns of the shell. The very first two whorls, called the protoconch, are small and smooth.
Shell Patterns and Features
The shell has special patterns called "sculpture." On the first adult whorl, there are many small ridges. These ridges run up and down the shell. On the next whorls, these ridges are spaced out. There are about seven ridges on each whorl. They are straight and stand out from the shell.
The shell also has raised spiral lines. These lines stick out where they cross the ridges. There are two of these spiral lines on the upper whorls. On the main part of the shell, called the body whorl, there are twelve spiral lines. They are spread evenly from the top to the bottom of the shell.
The opening of the shell, called the aperture, is narrow. Near the opening, there is a thick ridge called a varix. It is as big as the other ridges on the shell. The snail also has a small, shallow notch called a sinus. Inside the opening, there are tiny bumps on each side of the sinus. There is also a small fold deep inside on the central pillar of the shell, known as the columella. The siphonal canal, which is a short tube, is wide.
Where Does This Snail Live?
The Pseudorhaphitoma transitans lives in the ocean waters near Australia. You can find it in the Gulf of Carpentaria. It also lives off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
