Scrinium impendens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scrinium impendens |
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Original image of a shell of Scrinium impendens | |
Scientific classification | |
Synonyms | |
Mangilia impendens Verco, 1909 (original combination) |
Scrinium impendens is a type of small sea snail. It's a marine gastropod, which means it's a kind of mollusk that moves on a "foot" and usually has a shell. This snail belongs to the family called Mitromorphidae.
Contents
What is Scrinium impendens?
This sea snail has a solid, white shell. The shell is quite small, usually about 6.4 millimeters long and 2.5 millimeters wide. That's less than a centimeter!
Shell Features
The shell has about 7 whorls, which are the spiral turns of the shell. The very first two turns at the top, called the protoconch, are smooth and rounded.
The shell's surface has many tiny spiral lines that are very close together. It also has even finer wavy lines from its growth, which make the surface feel a bit bumpy or grainy.
The opening of the shell, called the aperture, is shaped like a long oval. It's narrower at the back and wider at the front, with a small dip or notch. The edge of the opening, known as the outer lip, is sharp but gets thicker because of a noticeable ridge called a varix.
How the Shell Looks
The shell has rounded, triangular ribs that are wavy. These ribs are strongest where the shell bulges out. They fade away towards the bottom of the shell and near the opening.
Where Does Scrinium impendens Live?
This sea snail lives in the ocean and is found only in Australia. It is an endemic species, meaning it naturally lives in just one specific place in the world. For Scrinium impendens, that place is off the coast of South Australia.