Calliostoma spectabilis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Calliostoma spectabilis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Archaeogastropoda
Family: Calliostomatidae
Genus: Calliostoma
Species: C. spectabilis
Binomial name
Calliostoma spectabilis
(A. Adams, 1855)
Synonyms

Zizyphinus spectabilis A. Adams, 1855

Calliostoma spectabilis is species of relatively large deepwater sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc. Some authors have placed this genus in the family Calliostomatidae, other malacologists prefer to leave it in the family Trochidae, the top snails.

Contents

[edit] Distribution

This species is endemic to the Auckland Islands of New Zealand.

[edit] Habitat

This top snail is found at depths of between 100 and 130 m.

[edit] Shell description

The shell is fairly large and solid, tall-conical with straight-sided whorls, but a bluntly rounded apex. Sculpture is of strong nodulose spiral cords, three to four on the spire whorls and seven on the base.

The external shell coloration is yellowish to purplish-brown, with paler nodules. The aperture is iridescent.

The shell height is up to 52 mm, and the width is up to 45 mm.

[edit] References