Melanella adamantina

Melanella adamantina
Shell of Melanella adamantina (original image)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Family: Eulimidae
Genus: Melanella
Species:
M. adamantina
Binomial name
Melanella adamantina
(de Folin, 1867)
Synonyms[1]
  • Balcis adamantina (de Folin, 1867)
  • Eulima adamantina de Folin, 1867

Melanella adamantina is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Eulimidae. The species is one of a number within the genus Melanella. [1]

First described by Léopold de Folin in 1867 and named by him as Eulima adamantina. Type specimen collected in Panama.[2][3]

Description

(Original description in French) The shell is very elongate. Although the apex is slightly obtuse, the overall elongation of the shell makes it appear sharply pointed. It is crystalline, extremely diaphanous, and highly lustrous.

The shell consists of nine whorls, which initially increase in size slowly. Together, they form a pronounced curvature from right to left: the right side is concave, whereas the left side is convex. The whorls are joined by a simple suture that appears as a very fine and sharply defined line.

The transparency of the shell makes it possible to discern the basal plane of each whorl. This plane slightly thickens the shell wall within a very narrow margin both above and below the suture. The body whorl accounts for approximately one-third of the shell’s total length and is imperforate.

The aperture is elongate and semicircular. Its margins are simple, closely joined, and almost sharp-edged. The left margin is slightly reflected and curves around onto the columella. [4]

Distribution

This marine species occurs off Panama.

References

  1. 1 2 Melanella adamantina (de Folin, 1867). 15 August 2026. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species.
  2. ↑ de Folin (1867). Les Méléagrinicoles, espèces nouvelles. Havre: Imprimerie Lepelletier. p. 100.
  3. ↑ "Mollusca Types Catalogue | Eulima adamantina de Folin, 1867". naturalhistory.museumwales.ac.uk. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  4. ↑ Folin, L. de (1867). "Les méléagrinicoles. Espéces nouvelles". Recueil des Publications de la Société Havraise d'Études Diverses. 33: 100. Retrieved 15 August 2026. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.