''Synaptocochlea montrouzieri'' 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), ...

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 ...

Trochidae The Trochidae, common name top-snails or top-shells, are a family of various sized sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the subclass Vetigastropoda. This family is commonly known as the top-snails because in many species the shell resembles ...

, the top snails.Bouchet, P. (2012). ''Synaptocochlea montrouzieri'' (Pilsbry, 1890). 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=607353 on 2012-11-23

Description

The height of the shell attains 2½ mm, its largest diameter 4½ mm. The small shell has an ovate shape. Its back is convex. The shell is transversely striated. The striae are decussated by slightly elevated spiral striae, with smaller ones between them. Its color is deep opaque black, obliquely girdled with white. The spire is lateral and slightly prominent. The four

whorl A whorl ( or ) is an individual circle, oval, volution or equivalent in a whorled pattern, which consists of a spiral or multiple concentric objects (including circles, ovals and arcs). In nature File:Photograph and axial plane floral diagra ...

s are separated by impressed sutures. They are rounded, the last forming the greater part of the shell. The ample

aperture In optics, the aperture of an optical system (including a system consisting of a single lens) is the hole or opening that primarily limits light propagated through the system. More specifically, the entrance pupil as the front side image o ...

is rounded-ovate and somewhat dilated below. It is shining within, concolored with very translucent white bands. The right margin is acute. The left margin is subthickened, arcuate, reflexed posteriorly, and appressed. The umbilicus is no more than a very narrow fissure. The rounded operculum is corneous and very thin.G.W. Tryon (1890) Manual of Conchology XII; Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, 1890
/ref>

Distribution

This marine species occurs off

New Caledonia New Caledonia ( ; ) is a group of islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean, southwest of Vanuatu and east of Australia. Located from Metropolitan France, it forms a Overseas France#Sui generis collectivity, ''sui generis'' collectivity of t ...

References

Souverbie P. S.-M. & Montrouzier X. (1862) ''Descriptions d'espèces nouvelles de l'archipel calédonien''. Journal de Conchyliologie 10: 231-248

External links

ITIS

World Register of Marine Species
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3710330 montrouzieri Gastropods described in 1890