Kingdom Animalia Superfamily Architectonicoidea Phylum Mollusca Rank Species | Class Gastropoda Family Architectonicidae Genus Architectonica | |
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Similar Architectonica, Architectonicidae, Architectonica perspectiva, Architectonica perdix, Angaria delphinus | ||
Architectonica maxima, common name giant sundial, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Architectonicidae, which are known as the staircase shells or sundials.
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Description
Architectonica maxima has a shell that reaches 19 - 82 mm and it is the largest member of the sundial family. This shell is low-spired and quite flattened, with a beaded surface. The shoulder slope is divided into two ribs by a spiral groove. The basic color is cream, with brown spots.
Distribution
This species can be found in the Indo-Pacific, from East Africa and the Persian Gulf to western Pacific, Japan, eastern Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Hawaii.
Habitat
Giant sundial is a carnivore deeper water sea snail living on sandy patches and muddy sublittoral bottoms, close to soft corals, at a depth of 10 - 280 m.