Stellatoma mellissi

Stellatoma mellissi is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Mangeliidae.[1]

Stellatoma mellissi
Original image of a shell of Stellatoma mellissi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Conoidea
Family: Mangeliidae
Genus: Stellatoma
Species:
S. mellissi
Binomial name
Stellatoma mellissi
(E. A. Smith, 1890)
Synonyms[1]

Pleurotoma (Mangilia) mellissi E. A. Smith, 1890 (basionym)

Description

The adult shell grows to a length of 5 mm, its diameter 2 mm.

The small shell is fusiform-ovate. It has a reddish color and a darker reddish color at the sutures. The body whorl has a red band in the middle. The shell contains 6½ whorls. The 2½ protoconch whorls are convex and smooth. The third whorl is convex and is slightly obliquely lirate. The others have a broad sloping shoulder and a greatly rounded anterior portion. They show about 14 axial ribs. The spiral sculpture consists of 3 cords in the upperwhorls and 16-20 in the body whorl. The aperture is elongate-ovate, measuring about half the total length. The outer lip is marked by transverse striations and is incrassate with a strong denticle close to the posterior sinus. The microscopic structure of this species appears under the microscope to consist of numerous spiral series of very minute grain-like scales, which, at times, are arranged one under the other, so as to produce the appearance of a longitudinal series.[2]

Distribution

This species is found in the Atlantic Ocean off St. Helena.

References
  1. Rosenberg, G. (2010). Stellatoma mellissi (E. A. Smith, 1890). In: MolluscaBase (2017). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=533454 on 2018-01-25
  2. Smith E.A. (1890). Report on the marine molluscan fauna of the island of St. Helena. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 1890: 247-317, pl. 21-24
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