Columbarium veridicum

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Columbarium veridicum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Orthogastropoda
Superorder: Caenogastropoda
Order: Sorbeoconcha
Suborder: Hypsogastropoda
Infraorder: Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Buccinoidea
Family: Columbariidae
Genus: Columbarium
Species: C. veridicum
Binomial name
Columbarium veridicum
Dell, 1963

Columbarium spiralis is a species of deepwater sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Columbariidae, the pagoda shells. This genus is however usually placed in the family Turbinellidae.

(It is worth noting that Gastropod taxonomy in general is currently in flux and is under active professional revision. Experts disagree about the exact placement of some families.)

Contents

[edit] Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is found east of the Poor Knights Islands.

[edit] Habitat

This pagoda snail lives at depths of between 560 and 620 m.

[edit] Shell description

This shell is moderately large, with a rather broadly conical spire, and a very long straight canal. The protoconch is large, smooth, bulbous and paucispiral, the apex off centre. Sculpture consists of a peripheral lamellose flange, produced into broad based, sharply pointed spines, and a strong non-spinose cord that produces a marked angulation of the upper base. There are no spirals on the siphonal canal.

The shell colour is chalky-white externally, and faint purplish-brown within the aperture.

The shell height is up to 69 mm, and width (including spines) 24 mm, 17 mm without.

[edit] References