Cryptonatica hirasei

Cryptonatica hirasei
Shell of Cryptonatica hirasei
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Family: Naticidae
Genus: Cryptonatica
Species:
C. hirasei
Binomial name
Cryptonatica hirasei
(Pilsbry, 1905)
Synonyms
  • Boreonatica (Sulconatica) hirasei (Pilsbry, 1905) superseded combination
  • Cryptonatica (Sulconatica) hirasei (Pilsbry, 1905) superseded combination
  • Natica (Cryptonatica) hirasei (Pilsbry, 1905) superseded combination
  • Natica (Haloconcha) hirasei Pilsbry, 1905 (original combination)
  • Tectonatica hirasei (Pilsbry, 1905) superseded combination

Cryptonatica hirasei is a species of predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Naticidae, the moon snails.

Description

The length of the shell attains 28 mm; its diameter 15 mm; the aperture to the end of the canal 19 mm.

(Described as Natica (Haloconcha) hirasei) The shell is obesely fusiform, with its greatest width situated approximately at the median level. It is solid and strong, white, and irregularly marked with dull purplish-brown spots of irregular shape, as well as with narrow reddish-brown spiral lines. These lines are most distinct behind the lip; there are six, equidistant lines, or fewer where some are omitted.

There are six whorls, although the protoconch is lost in the specimens examined. The whorls are longitudinally costate, with 13 to 15 rounded ribs on the body whorl. These ribs are most prominent at the shoulder, rapidly diminish below it, and do not extend onto the base. The surface is sculptured throughout with rounded spiral cords, with threads occasionally interposed between them.

The last two whorls are subangular at the shoulder, whereas the preceding whorls are very convex. The body whorl is strongly contracted below. The aperture is oblique, and its length, including the anterior canal, is about two thirds that of the shell. Internally, it is pale, dull reddish brown, becoming ochre-flesh-coloured between the lirae and pure white along the bevelled edge. The interior is rather sharply sulcate.

The outer lip is symmetrically arched. The anterior canal is deep and moderately recurved.

Distribution

This marine species occurs off Japan.

References

  1. ↑ Cryptonatica hirasei (Pilsbry, 1905). 8 October 2026. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species.
  2. ↑ Pilsbry, H.A. (1905). "New Japanese marine Mollusca". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 57: 105. Retrieved 7 October 2026.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.