Species of gastropod
Oxystele tigrina, common name the tiger top shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Trochidae, the top snails.[1]
Description
The size of an adult shell varies between 25 mm and 43 mm. The more or less elevated, imperforate shell has a conoidal shape. It is lusterless blackish or purplish, unicolored or with a few scattered white dots, or yellowish flexiious lines. The yellow or whitish, apical whorls are eroded. The about 6 whorls are spirally coarsely but obsoletely lirate. The large aperture lis oblique with a black border and is silvery within. The simple columella is white or yellowish, bordered by a dull purplish streak. The parietal wall is usually covered by a thin silvery callus.[2]
Distribution
This marine species occurs along Namibia and the south coast of South Africa.
References
- ^ a b Oxystele tigrina (Anton, 1839). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 2 July 2011.
- ^ Tryon (1889), Manual of Conchology XI, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia
- Kilburn, R.N. (1977) Taxonomic studies on the marine Mollusca of southern Africa and Mozambique. Part 1. Annals of the Natal Museum, 23, 173–214
- Steyn, D.G. & Lussi, M. (1998) Marine Shells of South Africa. An Illustrated Collector’s Guide to Beached Shells. Ekogilde Publishers, Hartebeespoort, South Africa, ii + 264 pp. page(s): 24
- Branch, G.M. et al. (2002). Two Oceans. 5th impression. David Philip, Cate Town & Johannesburg.
- Donald K.M., Kennedy M. & Spencer H.G. (2005) The phylogeny and taxonomy of austral monodontine topshells (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Trochidae), inferred from DNA sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 37: 474–483
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oxystele tigrina.
- "Diloma (Oxystele) tigrina". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
