''Calliotropis metallica'' is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
sea snail
Sea snail is a common name for slow-moving marine gastropod molluscs, usually with visible external shells, such as whelk or abalone. They share the taxonomic class Gastropoda with slugs, which are distinguished from snails primarily by the ...
, a marine
gastropod
The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda ().
This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, from freshwater, and from land. T ...
mollusk
Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is e ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Eucyclidae
Eucyclidae is a family of gastropods in the superfamily Seguenzioidea (according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005).
This family has no subfamilies.
Genera
Genera within the family Eucyclidae include:
* '' Amberley ...
.
Description
(Original description) A brilliantly nacreous species, ornamented with two spiral rows of conical tubercles and four smooth carinae on the base, exclusive of a faintly granulated one which bounds the
umbilicus. The glistening metallic lustre of the whole exterior is largely though not entirely due to the erosion of the delicate external layer of the shell.
In the ''Siboga''-specimens the whole shell, perhaps with exception of the embryonic whorls, is covered by a thin yellowish layer, having the aspect of an epidermis, and only when this is removed, the metallic lustre appears. The basal carinae, if not eroded, are not smooth, in the majority of the specimens. There are only
three of them, and a trace of an intermediate one near the
aperture
In optics, an aperture is a hole or an opening through which light travels. More specifically, the aperture and focal length of an optical system determine the cone angle of a bundle of rays that come to a focus in the image plane.
An opt ...
, the most central keel is decidedly adorned with small tubercles and also the
other ones are slightly beaded or crenulated. The outer layer of the shell has a fibrous texture, in the interstices between the umbilical keel and the second basal keel, the surface has distinct riblike striae. The funnel-shaped, pervious
umbilicus has the same riblike striae on its wall.
Schepman 1908–1913, The Prosobranchia of the Siboga Expedition; Leyden, E. J. Brill, 1908–13
(described as ''Solariellopsis metallica'')
Distribution
This marine species occurs off South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
, Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...
, Southern India
South India, also known as Dakshina Bharata or Peninsular India, consists of the peninsular southern part of India. It encompasses the States and union territories of India, Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and T ...
and off Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
.
References
External links
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5022647
metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band. The band was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles by vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrume ...
Gastropods described in 1891