Herpetopoma aspersum

Herpetopoma aspersum, common name the speckled top shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chilodontidae.[2][3]

Herpetopoma aspersum
A shell of Herpetopoma aspersum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Vetigastropoda
Superfamily: Seguenzioidea
Family: Chilodontaidae
Genus: Herpetopoma
Species:
H. aspersum
Binomial name
Herpetopoma aspersum
(Philippi, 1846) [1]
Synonyms
  • Euchelus aspersus auct.
  • Euchelus baccatus Menke, 1843
  • Monodonta baccata Menke, 1843
  • Trochus aspersus Koch, 1846
  • Trochus baccatus Philippi, 1846 (original combination)

Description

The size of the shell varies between 6 mm and 18 mm. The imperforate, solid shell has a globose-conic shape. It is pinkish, with sparsely scattered reddish or blackish dots. The elevated spire is conical. It isconstricted by deep, canaliculate sutures ; The five convex whorls are encircled by closely beaded equal spirals The interstices are lamellose-striate On the penultimate whorl there are (typically) 9 spirals, 17 on the body whorl, including the base. The body whorl is rounded. The aperture is also rounded. The thick outer lip is crenulate inside. The columella is concave, terminating in a minute tooth, and bounded by a longitudinal groove.

There is considerable variation in degree of elongation, some shells being high, subscalariform. The number of lirae on the penultimate whorl, their equality in size, and the coloration, are the more salient specific characters.

Distribution

This marine species occurs off South Australia and Tasmania, and off the Solomons.

References
  1. Philippi, Conchyl. Cab., p. 173, t. 27, f. 13
  2. Bouchet, P. (2012). Herpetopoma aspersum (Philippi, 1846). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=547211 on 2013-04-14
  3. Poppe G.T., Tagaro S.P. & Dekker H. (2006) The Seguenziidae, Chilodontidae, Trochidae, Calliostomatidae and Solariellidae of the Philippine Islands. Visaya Supplement 2: 1-228.
  • To Encyclopedia of Life
  • To World Register of Marine Species
  • "Herpetopoma aspersa". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  • Seashells of New South Wales: Herpetopoma aspersa
  • https://molluscsoftasmania.org.au/project/herpetopoma-aspersum/
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