Kingdom Animalia Clade Vetigastropoda Family Trochidae Scientific name Infundibulops cariniferus Rank Species | Phylum Mollusca Superfamily Trochoidea Genus Trochus Higher classification Infundibulops | |
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Similar Trochus, Trochus squarrosus, Trochus camelophorus | ||
Trochus cariniferus is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Trochidae, the top snails.
Contents
Description
The size of the adult shell of this species varies between 10 mm and 30 mm. The rather thin, false-umbilicate shell has a wide-conical shape. It is, dark green, the upper surface irregularly broadly maculate with crimson or purplish red. The ribs of the base are articulated with the same. The about six whorls are somewhat convex. The upper surface of each whorl shows usually four or five spiral closely granose lirae, in the interstices between which sharp microscopic oblique and spiral striae are visible under a lens. The body whorl is carinated at the periphery, usually with six lirae on the upper surface, convex beneath, concentrically lirate, the lime very narrow, feebly granose or nearly smooth, separated by wide lightly obliquely striate interspaces, the inner lirae closer. The aperture is rhomboidal. The columella is not folded above, but straight from the insertion to the base, its edge simple. The umbilical area is deep, rather narrow, white, smooth, with a spiral rib just inside the margin, and with its outer border tinged with red.
Distribution
This marine species occurs in the Indian Ocean off Tanzania, Madagascar and South Africa.