Stilla flexicostata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stilla flexicostata |
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| Original image of a shell of Stilla flexicostata | |
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Mangilia flexicostata Suter, 1899 |
Stilla flexicostata is a tiny species of sea snail. It lives in the ocean and is a type of mollusk, like clams and octopuses. This snail belongs to a group called gastropods, which means "stomach-foot." It's part of the Raphitomidae family of snails.
What Does It Look Like?
The shell of Stilla flexicostata is very small. It's only about 2.25 millimeters (mm) long, which is less than a quarter of a centimeter! Its width is about 1.25 mm.
This little shell is white and a bit see-through. It has an oval shape that is longer than it is wide. The top part, called the spire, is taller than the main body of the shell. The shell has five whorls, which are like the turns or spirals of the shell. These whorls have slight "shoulders" and wavy ridges, with about 16 ridges on the largest whorl. If you look very closely, you can also see tiny spiral lines on the shell.
The very first part of the shell, called the protoconch, has one and a half smooth, tiny turns. The line where the whorls meet, called the suture, is quite deep. The opening of the shell, known as the aperture, is oval-shaped and pointed at the top. The edge of this opening, the outer lip, is a bit thicker and has a gentle curve or dip just below the suture. The central pillar inside the shell, called the columella, is curved. At the bottom, there's a short, slanted tube-like part called the siphonal canal. Scientists don't know what the actual animal inside the shell looks like yet.
Where Does It Live?
This sea snail lives only in New Zealand. It can be found in the waters off Foveaux Strait, Stewart Island, Snares Island, and Auckland Island.
