Superfamily Pterotracheoidea | Scientific name Atlanta brunnea Rank Species | |
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Similar Atlanta lesueurii, Atlantidae, Pterotracheoidea, Oxygyrus keraudrenii | ||
Atlanta brunnea is a species of sea snail, a holoplanktonic marine gastropod mollusk in the family Atlantidae.
Contents
Description
Atlanta brunnea is a small species (shell diameter to 2.0 mm) that is darkly pigmented (brown to reddish-and golden-brown). The keel is tall and colorless, and inserts between the last and penultimate shell whorls in animals larger than 1.5 mm. The spire is tall and conical, consisting of 4 whorls and possessing a complex pattern of spiral sculpture that ends on the protoconch and is replaced by spiral rows of small punctae on the teleoconch. Coloration ranges from brown to amber and reddish brown.
Juveniles of this species are easily recognised by their shape and ornament. The protoconch is rather high conical and has 3½ - 3¾ whorls, slowly increasing in diameter. On the first whorl, in front of the nucleus, an ornament is seen of some nine or ten irregular spirals. Two stronger spirals from the second whorl on delimit a subsutural zone and the base of the shell. On these spirals the whorl profile is slightly angular. The whole surface of the protoconch is furthermore covered with numerous finer spirals in an irregular zigzag shape, also on the base and within the umbilicus. The boundary with the teleoconch is made distinct by the sudden disappearance of these spirals. From that point on the whorl diameter increases rapidly, by which the shape of the shell becomes lenticular. Somewhat more than one teleoconch whorl is present in the largest specimens. The periphery of the body whorl is angular and bears a distinct flange-like keel. The protoconch is visible in an apertural view.
Eyes aretype a, operculum is type a, and radula type I.
Description overview:
Distribution
Atlanta brunnea has an almost worldwide tropical and subtropical distribution pattern.
Fossil distribution
Atlanta brunnea is known from the Pliocene of Anda, Pangasinan, Luzon, Philippines.
Ecology
It is limited to the upper 100 m of the water column in Hawaiian waters. Comparison of day and night vertical distribution of abundances suggested that a portion of the population from 50–100 m migrated into the upper 50 m at night.