Alcithoe smithi

Taxobox
name = "Alcithoe smithi"


image_caption = Mollusc
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
ordo = Sorbeoconcha
familia = Volutidae
genus = "Alcithoe"
species = "A. smithi"
binomial = "Alcithoe smithi"
binomial_authority = Powell, 1950
synonyms = "Pachymelon smithi" Powell, 1950

"Alcithoe smithi" is a large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Volutidae, the volutes.

Range of distribution

This species is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand, off the Otago coast.

Habitat

This volute is found at depths of between 110 and 130 m.

hell description

The shell is solid and narrowly fusiform, with the spire about three quarters the height of the aperture. The spire whorls are medially angulate, and sculptured with from 14 to 17 long, narrow axial folds. The pillar has four or five strong plaits.

The external shell colour is uniformly pinkish-buff, with a conspicuous violet staining at the anterior end, and sometimes near the top of the outer lip as well.

The shell height is up to 113 mm, and the width up to 44 mm.

References

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