Alcithoe lutea

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Alcithoe lutea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Sorbeoconcha
Family: Volutidae
Genus: Alcithoe
Species: A. lutea
Binomial name
Alcithoe lutea
(Watson, 1882)
Synonyms

Cymbiola lutea Watson, 1882

Alcithoe lutea is a large deepwater sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Volutidae, the volutes.

Contents

[edit] Range of distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is found off the west coasts of both the North and South Islands.

[edit] Habitat

This volute is found at depths of between 500 and 600 m.

[edit] Shell description

This shell is of moderate size, thin, with a rather short spire, about two thirds the height of the aperture, and rounded, rather inflated whorls. The protoconch is large, mamillate, of about two to two and a half whorls, and usually eroded. Sculpture consists of long weak axials, extending from suture to suture, but confined to the first 3 post-nuclear whorls, after which they become obsolete. The aperture is narrowly D-shaped, the outer lip is slightly thickened and reflected, and the inner lip has four plaits, and a widely spread thin glaze.

The external shell coloration is dull ashy-white, with the interior of the aperture and parietal glaze being pale orange. The periostracum has traces of pale olive.

The shell height is up to 85 mm, and the shell width is up to 38 mm.

[edit] References