Amalda angustata

Amalda angustata
Shell of Amalda angustata (specimen at the Natural History Museum, Rotterdam)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Family: Ancillariidae
Genus: Amalda
Species:
A. angustata
Binomial name
Amalda angustata
Synonyms[2]
  • Amalda errorum Tomlin, 1921
  • Ancilla errorum Tomlin, 1921 (junior synonym)
  • † Ancilla miserula Yokoyama, 1928 junior subjective synonym
  • Ancillaria angustata G. B. Sowerby II, 1859 (original combination)

Amalda angustata is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Ancillariidae.[2]

Description

The length of the shell varies between 12 mm and 17 mm; its diameter 5.4 mm.

The shell is elongated and fusiform, with a slender, tapering shape. It has a high, pointed spire, typically smooth and glossy, with well-defined whorls. The overall appearance of the shell is sleek and streamlined. The body whorl is the largest and forms the majority of the shell's length. It is adorned with fine spiral striations, often subtle, giving the shell a polished look.

The aperture is narrow and elongated, occupying a significant portion of the shell's height. The outer lip is thin and smooth, curving gently at the base. The siphonal canal is relatively short and open, while the inner lip is coated with a thin callus, extending slightly onto the body whorl.

The shell tends to be pale, often a greyish or creamy white, sometimes with faint bands or markings that enhance its delicate appearance. The overall texture is smooth, with a glossy finish that reflects light subtly. [3]

This species is often associated with sandy environments, where its streamlined shape allows it to burrow easily.

Distribution

This marine species occurs off South Africa.

References

  1. ^ Sowerby G.B. II (1859). Monograph of the genus Ancillaria. Thesaurus Conchyliorum 3. World Register of Marine Species, Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  2. ^ a b Amalda angustata (G.B. Sowerby II, 1859). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 28 April 2010.
  3. ^ Sowerby, G.B. II (1859). Monograph of the genus Ancillaria. In: G. B. Sowerby II (ed.), Thesaurus Conchyliorum, or monographs of Genera of Shells, vol. 3 (. London: privately published. p. 13. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • Yokoyama, M. (1928). "Pliocene shells from Hyuga". Journal of the Faculty of Science, Tokyo Imperial University. 2 (7): 343.
  • Gratecap, D. (2012). "Le genre Amalda en Afrique Australe". Xenophora. 140: 29.