''Pseudococculina granulata'' is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

of small

sea snail Sea snails are slow-moving marine (ocean), marine gastropod Mollusca, molluscs, usually with visible external shells, such as whelk or abalone. They share the Taxonomic classification, taxonomic class Gastropoda with slugs, which are distinguishe ...

, a marine

gastropod Gastropods (), commonly known as slugs and snails, belong to a large Taxonomy (biology), taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, freshwater, and fro ...

mollusk Mollusca is a phylum of protostomic invertebrate animals, whose members are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 76,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized, making it the second-largest animal phylum after Arthropoda. The ...

in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Pseudococculinidae Pseudococculinidae is a family of small sea snails or false limpets, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Lepetelloidea (according to the taxonomy of the Gastropoda by Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005).Gofas, S. (2012). Pseudococculinidae. Acces ...

, the false

limpet Limpets are a group of aquatic snails with a conical gastropod shell, shell shape (patelliform) and a strong, muscular foot. This general category of conical shell is known as "patelliform" (dish-shaped). Existing within the class Gastropoda, ...

s.Rosenberg, G. (2012). ''Pseudococculina granulata'' Schepman, 1908. Accessed through:

World Register of Marine Species The World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) is a taxonomic database that aims to provide an authoritative and comprehensive catalogue and list of names of marine organisms. Content The content of the registry is edited and maintained by scien ...

at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=592605 on 2013-02-02

Description

The small, white shell is oval and depressed. It is very thin. It grows to a length of 5½ mm. The shell is broader towards the front, the ends are slightly raised. The front and side-slopes are slightly convex. The posterior slope is nearly straight, with a very small impression below the nucleus, This nucleus is smooth, compressed, subspiral, placed at a little more than 6/11 of the total length of the shell. The

sculpture Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sc ...

consists of a few concentric striae. Moreover, the whole surface is covered by very small, crowded granules of an irregular oval, potatolike shape. Sometimes two or three granules are confluent. They are placed in oblique rows. The inside of the shell is smooth. The rhachidian tooth of the

radula The radula (; : radulae or radulas) is an anatomical structure used by mollusks for feeding, sometimes compared to a tongue. It is a minutely toothed, chitinous ribbon, which is typically used for scraping or cutting food before the food enters ...

has an oblong shape, with convex sides towards the middle, and concave towards the top, with a slightly reflected margin. The upper margin lacks a cusp, and is irregularly convex. About the centre of this tooth is an irregular spot that seems to be thickened and slightly coloured. The first lateral tooth has a subtriangular shape, with a thickened or reflected upper margin. It is followed by three laterals with a simple cusp. The outermost lateral is so much concealed by the large uncini, that its shape could not be traced. It seems to have a simple cusp, without the sharp denticle of the preceding species. The proximal uncini are strongly hooked and simple. The median ones seem to be serrated and the exterior one again simple.Schepman M.M. (1909), The prosobranchia of the Siboga Expedition
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Distribution

This marine species occurs in the Indo-Australian archipelago.

References

Schepman M.M. (1909), T''he prosobranchia of the Shiboga Expedition''

External links

Biodiversity Heritage Library (3 publications)

World Register of Marine Species
{{Taxonbar, from=Q7254670 Pseudococculinidae Gastropods described in 1908