Splendrillia aoteana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Splendrillia aoteana |
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Splendrillia aoteana is a type of sea snail. It is a marine gastropod mollusk that belongs to the family Drilliidae.
This snail has also been found as a fossil in rocks from the Pliocene period in New Zealand.
About This Snail
This snail was given its scientific name, Splendrillia aoteana, in 1930 by a scientist named Finlay.
What Does It Look Like?
The shell of the Splendrillia aoteana can grow up to 18 millimeters (about 0.7 inches) long. It is about 7 millimeters (about 0.27 inches) wide.
The shell is strong and shaped a bit like a club. It has raised ridges that run up and down its surface. These ridges are called axial ribs. They start near the top of the shell and go down to the bottom.
The shell often has a pretty pink band that spirals around it. The rest of the shell is usually a pale yellowish-brown color.
If you look very closely, you might see tiny lines on the shell. These are like growth rings, showing how the snail grew over time.
The top part of the shell, called the spire, is tall and pointed. It's almost twice as tall as the opening of the shell. The very first part of the shell, the protoconch, is smooth and white.
The snail's shell has about eight turns, or whorls, that get bigger as they go down. The opening of the shell is narrow and oval-shaped. It leads to a short, straight siphonal canal at the bottom. This canal helps the snail breathe.
The outer edge of the shell's opening is thick. It has a small, deep notch near the top. The inner part of the opening is smooth and thick.
Where Does It Live?
This sea snail lives in the Pacific Ocean. You can find it off the coast of New Zealand. It lives in the demersal zone, which means it lives near the seabed or ocean floor.
