- Source: Eucyclotoma albomacula
Eucyclotoma albomacula is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Raphitomidae. It was first described by E. Alison Kay in 1979 and is distinguished by a single spiral keel on each whorl with axial white stripes; the species name (albomacula) is derived from the Latin albo (white) and macula (speck or spot).
Description
The shell varies greatly in length, with specimens ranging in size from 2 mm to 8 mm (0.08 - 0.31 inches). The holotype has a diameter of 2 mm (0.08 inches) and a length of about 7.75 mm (0.3 inches). The shell is tall-spired, thin, with a sloping spiral keel on each whorl. The shell is described as glossy, chestnut brown with three axial streaks of white colour. Its spire consists of a protoconch of two and a half whorls, a teleoconch of c. nine whorls, and an indistinct suture marked by a spiral head and a linear spiral of white and brown. It has a widely oval aperture about one-fifth the total length of the shell, a thin outer lip with protrusions of the spiral keels.
Distribution
Eucyclotoma albomacula are rare, found at mesophotic depths between 59 m to 195 m (194 - 640 ft). They are thought to be endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The holotype was collected at a depth of 60 m (197 ft), in Kepuhi Point, O'ahu. Specimens have been collected from Lāna'i, Ni'ihau, French Frigate Shoals, Laysan, Salmon Bank, Pearl and Hermes Atoll, Midway Atoll, and Kure Atoll.
This table does not represent every specimen of Eucyclotoma albomacula collected, merely specimens in possession of the Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii.
See also
Eucyclotoma
Raphitomidae
Tritonoturris
References
Severns, M. (2011). Shells of the Hawaiian Islands - The Sea Shells. Conchbooks, Hackenheim. 564 pp.
Liu J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.)(2008). Checklist of marine biota of China seas. China Science Press. 1267 pp
External links
Tucker, J.K. (2004). "Catalog of recent and fossil turrids (Mollusca: Gastropoda)" (PDF). Zootaxa. 682: 1–1295. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.682.1.1.
Kay, E. A. (1979). Hawaiian marine shells. Reef and shore fauna of Hawaii. Section 4: Mollusca. Bernice P. Bishop Museum Special Publications. 64xviii + 1-653
Moretzsohn, Fabio, and E. Alison Kay. "HAWAIIAN MARINE MOLLUSCS." (1995)