Kingdom Animalia Clade Vetigastropoda Family Turbinidae Scientific name Modelia granosa Rank Species | Phylum Mollusca Superfamily Trochoidea Genus Modelia Higher classification Modelia | |
 | ||
Similar Turbinidae, Gastropods, Molluscs, Lunella undulata, Astralium stellare | ||
Modelia granosa, common name the southern cat's eye, is a medium to large species of sea snail which has a shell with a pearly interior and a calcareous operculum. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.
Contents
Description
The size of the shell varies between 25 mm and 80 mm. The orbiculate, imperforate shell has a depressed-conic shape. It is, pinkish yellow, unicolored, or clouded with purplish or brown. The seven whorls are rounded, the upper two smooth, the others closely minutely granulose in regular spiral series. The body whorl is rounded and descending. The subcircular aperture is white and iridescent within. The white columella is wide, subexcavated in the center. The thin callus is shining and rose-tinted.
The ovate operculum is flat within, with 5-6 whorls and a subcentral nucleus. On its outside it is white, thick, subgibbous, and minutely tuberculate at its center, subcanaliculate at its periphery.
Distribution
It is only known to occur in New Zealand.