Funiscala maxwelli

Taxobox
name = "Funiscala maxwelli"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
subclassis = Prosobranchia
ordo = Heterogastropoda
familia = Epitoniidae
genus = Funiscala
species = "F. maxwelli"
binomial = "Funiscala maxwelli"
binomial_authority = Finlay, 1930
synonyms =

"Funiscala maxwelli" is a minute species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Epitoniidae, the wentletraps.

Distribution

This species is endemic to the southern half of the South Island of New Zealand.

Habitat

This wentletrap is found at depths of between 25 and 90 m.

Description

The shell is small, solid, with an attenuated spire, dull-white, with a densely spirally striated surface.

The shell is sculptured with numerous rather weak axial ribs, 15 to 16 per whorl. These ribs or costae stop abruptly at the top of the aperture because of a heavy spiral basal disc.

The suture is impressed but not scalloped. The aperture is oval, with a thin edge, but it is strengthened externally by a heavy, spirally striated varix. Former varices are disposed irregularly on the spire.

The shell height is up to 7.8 mm, and width up to 2.7 mm.

References

* Powell A W B, "New Zealand Mollusca", William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1