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Aliceia aenigmatica

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Aliceia aenigmatica
Original image of shells of Aliceia aenigmatica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Conoidea
Family: Raphitomidae
Genus: Aliceia
Species:
A. aenigmatica
Binomial name
Aliceia aenigmatica
Dautzenberg & Fischer H., 1897

Aliceia aenigmatica is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Raphitomidae.[1]

Description

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The length of the shell attains 3.4 mm, its diameter 1.8 mm.

(Original description in Latin) The shell is tall, remarkably thin, glossy, and transparent, with a broad and deep umbilicus. The spire is elevated and turreted, consisting of 7 convex whorls that are stepped and clearly separated by an impressed suture.

The protoconch is smooth, while the next three whorls are keeled at the midpoint: above the keel, they are smooth, while below, they are adorned with closely spaced longitudinal ribs. In the body whorl these ribs disappear, but the keel remains and is decorated with widely spaced, arched scales that curve forward. The aperture is triangular, tapering to a pointed base. The columella is fairly straight, with a slight reflex above the umbilicus.

The outer lip is extremely thin, sharp, and channeled at the top. The umbilicus is wide, funnel-shaped, and open. The early whorls are yellowish, gradually transitioning to a white and translucent appearance in the final whorls. [2]

Distribution

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This marine species occurs off the Azores at bathyal depths (1800-1980 m); also off the coast of Brazil.

References

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  • Gofas, S.; Le Renard, J.; Bouchet, P. (2001). Mollusca. in: Costello, M.J. et al. (eds), European Register of Marine Species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Patrimoines Naturels. 50: 180-213
  • Figueira R.M. Andrade & Absalão R.S. (2012). "Deep-water Raphitomidae (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Conoidea) from the Campos Basin, southeast Brazil". Zootaxa. 3527: 1–27.
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