Stomatella terminalis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stomatella terminalis |
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| Original drawing with two views of a shell of Stomatella terminalis | |
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Gena terminalis Verco, 1905 |
The Stomatella terminalis, also known as the pointed false ear, is a very tiny sea snail. It is a type of gastropod mollusk or micromollusk. This small creature belongs to the family Trochidae, which are often called top snails.
What Does It Look Like?
This snail has a very small, thin shell. It is shaped like an oblong oval, meaning it's longer than it is wide, with sides that are parallel.
Shell Size and Shape
The shell is usually about 5.75 millimeters (which is less than a quarter of an inch) tall. It is about 3 millimeters wide. The shell has four whorls, which are like the turns or spirals of the shell. It also has a small, hard-to-see spire at the very top.
Shell Surface and Color
The surface of the shell feels smooth and shiny. If you look very closely, you might see tiny lines on it. These lines are from how the shell grew over time.
The shell is mostly white. It has many spiral bands of white, dark, and reddish-brown spots or blotches. The patterns on the shell can be quite different from one snail to another. Some shells might have pink and white blotches. Others might have many fine, dark lines that look like hairs.
Where Does It Live?
The pointed false ear snail lives only in Australia. It is found off the coast of South Australia. This means it is endemic to that area and naturally lives nowhere else in the world.
