martedì 1 marzo 2011

TURRIDAE - Raphitoma linearis linearis (Montagu, G., 1803)









Description (shell):
Shell elongate, turreted, slightly cyrtoconoid, with seven to nine tumidwhorlssutures deep, sinuous, with narrow, minutely granular subsuturalband. Sculpture of strong costaespiral striae, and fine growth linesCostae rather narrow, slightly prosocline (especially on last whorl); about 11-12 on last whorlSpiral striae narrow, slightly nodular where they cross costae, much reduced on subsutural band; 16-20 on last whorl, four to seven on penultimateProtoconch of three or four whorls, finelyreticulate, with distinctive diamond pattern. Aperture elongate-oval, with short siphonal canal and shallow, semicircular anal sinusOuter lip thin,crenulate, without a varix though a costa often present at margin; a sharp inflexion at junction with siphonal canal; older shells with a row of nine teeth internally, first and last larger than rest (R. linearis-drawing).

Size:
Up to 12 x 7 mm.

Colour:
Cream with lilac tinge to apex or light horn colour; spiral striae often darker horn coloured and visible through outer lip.

Animal:
Diameter of cephalic tentacles reduces abruptly about half-way along length; eyes at this point. Siphon on mantle edge extends well beyondsiphonal canal in active animals. Foot with double-edged anterior marginand recurved anterio-lateral horns; no operculum.

Habitat:
Occasionally under stones or in pools at LWST; more commonly sublittoral on sand, shell, and gravel bottoms at 10- 200 m.

Distribution:
Distributed from Mediterranean to northern Norway (Distr. R. linearis).

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