Kingdom Animalia Class Gastropoda Family Nassariidae Rank Species | Phylum Mollusca Superfamily Buccinoidea Subfamily Nassariinae | |
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Demoulia abbreviata, common name : the obtuse demoulia, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Nassariidae, the Nassa mud snails or dog whelks.
Contents
Description
The shell size varies between 20 mm and 36 mm
The ovate, ventricose shell is of a whitish or chestnut color, marked sometimes with deeper spots. The suture is deep and canaliculated, the exterior edge of which is slightly rounded and surrounded by a white band, alternated with fawn-colored blotches. The scaffolded spire is formed of six or seven nearly flat whorls. The body whorl, on the contrary, is very convex, and larger than all the others united. Upon the surface of this shell, are seen equal, raised striae. The white aperture is subrotund, narrowed at the upper part and dilated inferiorly. The thin outer lip is crenulated upon the edge, and marked interiorly with very prominent transverse striae . The columella is arcuated and covered by the inner lip, which is obliterated, flattened and corrugated above. It forms, from the middle to the base, a thick and projecting callus, which is terminated by a very apparent fold, and by two guttules.
Distribution
This marine species occurs off Saldanha Bay, South Transkei, Rep. South Africa