Superfamily Buccinoidea Subfamily Nassariinae Scientific name Nassarius corniculum Rank Species | ||
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Tritia corniculum, common name the horn nassa, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Nassariidae, the Nassa mud snails or dog whelks.
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Originally introduced in the binomen Buccinum corniculum, the specific epithet is to be considered a noun (meaning "a small horn on a soldier's helmet") and is invariant.
Description
The length of the shell varies between 8 mm and 20 mm.
The ovate, conical shell is thick, smooth,and pointed at its summit. The spire is composed of six or seven slightly distinct whorls. The suture is moderately deep. There are a few transverse striae at the base of the body whorl. The aperture is pretty large, ovate, violet colored or chestnut, and dilated towards the middle. The outer lip is sharp and denticulated within. The left lip is thick, and partially covering the columella in its whole extent. The epidermis is thin, of a greenish or reddish brown, and beneath are perceived transverse zones, and spots of a slate or violet gray color, with a decurrent white band, articulated with brown or bay-colored spots upon the suture.
Distribution
This species occurs in the Mediterranean Sea and in the Atlantic Ocean off West Africa and the Azores.