Melanella acicula

Melanella acicula
Shell of Melanella acicula
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Family: Eulimidae
Genus: Melanella
Species:
M. acicula
Binomial name
Melanella acicula
Gould, 1849
Synonyms
  • Cuspeulima iredalei Laseron, 1955
  • Eulima acicularis A. Adams, 1861
  • Eulima pisorum Pilsbry, 1917
  • Eulima vitrea A. Adams, 1854
  • Leiostraca aciculata [sic] (misspelling)
  • Melanella iredalei Laseron, 1955
  • Melanella pisorum Pilsbry, 1917
  • Stilifer acicula Gould, 1859

Melanella acicula is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Eulimidae. This species is one of many species known to exist within the genus, Melanella

Description

(Original description in Latin) The small shell is imperforate, and elongated-subulate, tapering to a very sharp point. Toward the apex, it is perfectly smooth and very gradually twisted. The surface is extremely glossy, and the shell is livid-white or milky in colour, sometimes with a yellowish tinge.

The spire consists of as many as twelve flattened whorls, which are separated by a distinct, shining suture. The aperture is narrow and oval. The outer lip is simple, curves forward in a gentle arch, and is produced anteriorly. The columella is only slightly curved.

Distribution

This species occurs in the Indo-West Pacific; also off Korea, Japan, New Caledonia and Australia (New South Wales, Queensland)

References

  1. ↑ Melanella acicula (A. A. Gould, 1849). 14 August 2026. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species.
  2. ↑ Warén A. (2011). Checklist of Eulimidae. pers. com.
  3. ↑ Gould, A.A. (1849). "[Descriptions of new species of shells, brought home by the U. S. Exploring Expedition". Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History. 3: 84. Retrieved 14 August 2026. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.