Marginella gemmula

Marginella gemmula
Apertural (right) and abapertural (left) views of a shell of M. gemmula
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Caenogastropoda
clade Hypsogastropoda
clade Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Muricoidea
Family: Marginellidae
Subfamily: Marginellinae
Genus: Marginella
Species: M. gemmula
Binomial name
Marginella gemmula
Bavay in Dautzenberg, 1913

Marginella gemmula is a species of very small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Marginellidae, the margin snails.[1]

Description

Shell

The shell of Marginella gemmula, while glossy and smooth to the touch, has spires that can be anywhere from flat to moderately elevated. Most shells have various colors, but a small number can be colorless. On the outside of the shell, the columella has four plaits. The outside lip is thicker than other such creatures, and the inside of the shell sports a denticulate set of teeth and/or folds. Unlike other gastropods, Marginella gemmula's siphonal canal is not very deep, but is still present. There is no operculum present with Marginella gemmula.

Flesh

The head of Marginella gemmula is bifurcated, with the siphon extending behind it. When moving, the foot of the animal extends past the shell.

Distribution

This species occurs in Angola[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Marginella gemmula Bavay.  Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 24 April 2010.


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