Merica melanostoma
| Merica melanostoma | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Apertural view of a shell of Merica melanostoma westralis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| 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
- ^ a b Merica melanostoma (Sowerby, 1849). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 30 October 2010.
- ^ "Merica melanostoma melanostoma". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
- ^ "Merica melanostoma westralis". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
- ^ 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