Biology:Merica melanostoma

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Short description: Species of gastropod

Merica melanostoma
Merica melanostoma westralis 001.jpg
Apertural view of a shell of Merica melanostoma westralis
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Family: Cancellariidae
Genus: Merica
Species:
M. melanostoma
Binomial name
Merica melanostoma
(Sowerby, 1849)
Synonyms[1]

Cancellaria melanostoma Sowerby, 1849

Merica melanostoma is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cancellariidae, the nutmeg snails.[1]

Subspecies

  • Merica melanostoma melanostoma (Sowerby, G.B. II, 1849)[2]
  • Merica melanostoma westralis (Garrard, T.A., 1975)[3]

Description

The shell is whitish-orange and cream. Its size varies between 14mm and 38 mm, ending in a pointed apex. The shells are more globular than the rest of the genus, accented with rounded shoulders and deep sutures. The surface is covered with fine nodules.[4]

Distribution

This species is distributed in the Red Sea, western Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Oman, Western Australia and Northern Australia

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Merica melanostoma (Sowerby, 1849). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 30 October 2010.
  2. "Merica melanostoma melanostoma" (in en). Gastropods.com. http://www.gastropods.com/5/Shell_7375.shtml. 
  3. "Merica melanostoma westralis" (in en). Gastropods.com. http://www.gastropods.com/4/Shell_3654.shtml. 
  4. Richmond, M. (Ed.) (1997). A guide to the seashores of Eastern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean islands. Sida/Department for Research Cooperation, SAREC: Stockholm, Sweden. ISBN:91-630-4594-X. 448 pp

Wikidata ☰ Q6819202 entry