Kingdom Animalia Superfamily Muricoidea Subfamily Cymbiinae Scientific name Livonia mammilla Rank Species | Class Gastropoda Family Volutidae Genus Livonia Phylum Mollusca | |
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Similar Cymbiola magnifica, Amoria molleri, Amoria hunteri | ||
Livonia mammilla, common name False melon or False baler, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk of the genus Livonia in the family Volutidae, the volutes.
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Distribution
This marine species occurs off South East Australia from Western Victoria to New South Wales, Southern Queensland and Tasmania.
Description
Shells of Livonia mammilla can reach a size of 100–303 millimetres (3.9–11.9 in). These large shells are characterized by a greatly swollen apex and a lightweight protoconch with a diameter of about 20 millimetres (0.79 in). Whorls are smooth and rounded, with axial growth lines and weak spiral grooves on the top of the body whorl. Columella shows four plaits and the outer lip is smooth and flared outwards. The background colour is yellowish-brown or cream, while the inner edge of outer lip may be white or orange. Body whorl usually has two wide spiral bands of axial zigzag brown lines, but this pattern is variable.
Habitat
These moderately common sea snails live in subtidal waters and offshore on sand and mud, at depths of 73 to 457 m., emerging at night to feed.