Spectamen semireticulatum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spectamen semireticulatum |
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| Original drawing of a shell of Spectamen semireticulatum | |
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Spectamen semireticulatum is a type of sea snail. It is a marine gastropod mollusc. This snail belongs to the Solariellidae family.
Contents
About the Spectamen Snail
This section describes the unique features of the Spectamen semireticulatum shell.
Shell Size and Shape
The shell of this small snail is usually about 3.2 mm tall. It is also about 5 mm wide. Its shell is thin and delicate. It has a unique shape, like a flattened top. It also has a small hole in the center called an umbilicus.
Shell Patterns and Ridges
The shell has cool spiral patterns. These are like raised, rounded ridges. There are about 6 of these ridges on the second-to-last swirl of the shell. The main body swirl has about 16 ridges. Between these ridges on the top, you can see thin spiral lines. These lines are about the same width as the ridges.
The ridges on the outer part of the shell's base are finer. They are also closer together. On the inner side, three wide, slightly bumpy ridges surround the umbilicus. The umbilicus itself also has strong spiral ridges.
Special Markings
Two ridges below the suture (the line where the shell's swirls meet) are special. They are crossed by strong, sharp, evenly spaced lines. These lines create small, regular squares on the shell. The rest of the shell's swirls show fine growth lines.
Shell Color and Spire
The shell is usually whitish or a light horny color. The spire (the top part of the shell) is low. It has a rounded shape and is only a little taller than the shell's opening. The very tip of the spire, called the apex, is quite blunt.
Shell Swirls and Opening
The first swirl of the shell, called the protoconch, is small and round. It is smooth and rounded. The four main swirls of the shell grow quickly. They are a bit flat just below the suture, then they become rounded. The bottom of the shell is also rounded. The suture line is slightly grooved.
The shell's opening, called the aperture, is round. It looks a bit shiny inside. The edge of the opening is sharp. The ends of the opening almost meet. They are joined by a white, thick part called a parietal callosity. The columella (the central pillar of the shell) is straight and slightly curved. It is also a bit wider at the bottom. The umbilicus is deep and shaped like a staircase. It is about one-third the width of the shell.
Where Does This Snail Live?
This marine snail lives only in New Zealand. It is found near Snares Island. It lives in the ocean at a depth of about 91 m.
See also
In Spanish: Solariella semireticulata para niños
