Phasianella australis
Phasianella australis, common names the Australian pheasant, painted lady, and pheasant snail, is a medium-sized to large species of sea snail with a calcareous operculum and a colorfully patterned shell, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Phasianellidae.
Australian Pheasant | |
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Drawing of a shell of Phasianella australis | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Class: | |
(unranked): | clade Vetigastropoda |
Superfamily: | |
Family: | |
Subfamily: | Phasianellinae |
Genus: | |
Species: | P. australis |
Binomial name | |
Phasianella australis Gmelin, 1788 | |
Synonyms | |
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Description
This is the largest shell in the genus Phansianelle, with its height varying between 40 mm and 100 mm. The rather thin shell is elongatedand has a pointed-ovate shape. The conical spire is elevated. The shell contains 7-8 somewhat convex whorls. These are slightly flattened below the sutures. The long-ovate aperture is somewhat pyriform and forms usually less than half the total length of shell. The outer lip is thin. The columella shows more or less a white shining callus. The surface of the shell is variously longitudinally clouded and transversely articulated with red and purple olive on a polished flesh-colored, cream or white ground. The color pattern is extremely variable.[1]
Distribution
This marine species occurs off Australia and Tasmania.
References
- Rosenberg, G. 1992. Encyclopedia of Seashells. Dorset: New York. 224 pp.
- Wilson, B. (1993). Australian Marine Shells. Prosobranch Gastropods. Kallaroo, WA : Odyssey Publishing. Vol.1 1st Edn
External links
- Australian Govt
- Sea Snails Species
- Australian Government Species Bank
- "Phasianella australis". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
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