Zonaria petitiana
| Zonaria petitiana | |
|---|---|
| Shell of Zonaria petitiana (specimen at the Natural History Museum Rotterdam) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Littorinimorpha |
| Family: | Cypraeidae |
| Genus: | Zonaria |
| Species: | Z. petitiana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Zonaria petitiana (Crosse, 1872)
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Zonaria petitiana is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.[1]
- Synonyms
- Zonaria petitiana senegalensis F. A. Schilder, 1928: synonym of Zonaria pyrum insularum F. A. Schilder, 1928
Taxonomy
Some authors consider Z. petitiana a subspecies of Zonaria pyrum, e.g. Lorenz and Hubert, 2000, although Lorenz 2002 considers it a valid species.
Description
The length of the shell varies between 17 mm and 38 mm.
(Original description in Latin) The shell exhibits an ovate-pyriform shape, characterized by a somewhat turgid and thickened form. It possesses a glossy surface and tapers towards both extremities, culminating in a slight beak. The upper surface displays a chestnut-brown coloration, irregularly suffused with large, rounded white spots. The sides and extremities exhibit a broad flesh-colored hue. The lower surface appears flatter, displaying a flesh-colored tone. The columellar margin is adorned with 16 white teeth, while the external margin features 18. The spire is immersed and inconspicuous, with a slight concavity. The aperture is narrow, slightly sinuous, and exhibits a bluish-white coloration internally. [2]
Distribution
This marine species occurs off Senegal and Gabon
References
- ^ MolluscaBase eds. (2023). MolluscaBase. Zonaria petitiana (Crosse, 1872). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=595690 on 2023-11-26
- ^ Crosse H. (1872). Diagnoses molluscorum novorum. Journal de Conchyliologie. 20: 211-214. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- Lorenz F. (2002) New worldwide cowries. Descriptions of new taxa and revisions of selected groups of living Cypraeidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Schriften zur Malakozoologie aus dem Haus der Natur-Cismar 20: 1–292, pls 1-40.
- Lorenz, F. (2017). Cowries. A guide to the gastropod family Cypraeidae. Volume 1, Biology and systematics. Harxheim: ConchBooks. 644 pp.