Pyramidella maculosa

Pyramidella maculosa, common name the sulcate pyram, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.[1][2][3]

Pyramidella maculosa
Apertural view of a shell of Pyramidella maculosa (museum specimen at Naturalis Biodiversity Center)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Heterobranchia
Family: Pyramidellidae
Genus: Pyramidella
Species:
P. maculosa
Binomial name
Pyramidella maculosa
Lamarck, 1822
Synonyms[1]
  • Lonchaeus sulcatus A. Adams, 1853
  • Pyramidella sulcata (A. Adams, 1854)
  • Pyramidella tessellata (A. Adams, 1854)

Description

The length of the shell varies between 20 mm and 50 mm.

The grayish white shell is elongated, turreted, brilliant and pointed at its summit. It is slightly widened at its base nebulously longitudinally strigate with pale orange-chestnut, frequently breaking up into revolving series of dots. Its color is sometimes inclining to red, spotted with numerous brown spots arranged in transverse series, three in number upon each whorl, and five upon the body whorl. Upon its surface are seen large, brown, dull, and irregular spots.;Sometimes the points which adorn the shell are united, and form undulating, longitudinal lines. The spire is formed of fifteen or sixteen slightly convex, distinct whorls. The shallow suture is linear. The body whorl is short, and not perforated at the base. The small aperture is subovate, and at its depth are seen indistinct grooves. It is terminated at its base by a small, narrow, and shallow groove. The columella is somewhat arcuated, and presents three unequal folds towards the base.:The first is most projecting, and runs almost horizontally. The two others are small, oblique, and parallel. The outer lip is arcuated, thin, sharp and slightly convex.

Juvenile

Young specimens of this species are very slightly striated, and of a reddish color. Undulating lines and brown spots, distributed here and there, cover the shell. Some specimens are of a still redder color, and the points upon the shell are then more numerous, and of a deeper tint.[4][5] The length of the shell varies between 18 mm and 50 mm.

Distribution

This marine species occurs in the Red Sea, off New Zealand and in the following locations of the Indian Ocean :[1]

References
  1. Rosenberg, G. (2012). Pyramidella maculosa. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=605361 on 2012-07-05
  2. Drivas, J. & M. Jay (1988). Coquillages de La Réunion et de l'île Maurice
  3. Dautzenberg, P. (1923). Liste preliminaire des mollusques marins de Madagascar et description de deux especes nouvelles. Journal de Conchyliologie 68: 21-74.
  4. Kiener (1840). General species and iconography of recent shells : comprising the Massena Museum, the collection of Lamarck, the collection of the Museum of Natural History, and the recent discoveries of travellers; Boston :W.D. Ticknor,1837 (described as Pyramidella corrugata)
  5. G.W. Tryon, Manual of Conchology vol. VIII p. 301; 1889 (described as Pyramidella sulcata)
  • Dautzenberg, Ph. (1923). Liste préliminaire des mollusques marins de Madagascar et description de deux espèces nouvelles. J. conchyliol. 68: 21-74
  • Kilburn, R.N. & Rippey, E. (1982) Sea Shells of Southern Africa. Macmillan South Africa, Johannesburg, xi + 249 pp. page(s): 129
  • Drivas, J. & M. Jay (1988). Coquillages de La Réunion et de l'île Maurice
  • Spencer, H.; Marshall. B. (2009). All Mollusca except Opisthobranchia. In: Gordon, D. (Ed.) (2009). New Zealand Inventory of Biodiversity. Volume One: Kingdom Animalia. 584 pp
  • "Pyramidella maculosa". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
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