Psittacodrillia albonodulosa (E. A. Smith 1904)

Psittacodrillia albonodulosa is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Horaiclavidae.^[1]

Description

The length of the shell attains 8.3 mm, its diameter 4 mm.

The small, dark-red shell contains six convex whorls and, contrary to the other species in this genus, the apex is not papilliform but slightly depressed. The shell has 10 axial ribs on the whorls. The body whorl has only 6 or 7 ribs, the last part without ribs. The white marks on the ribs is continued as a white band on the smooth part, but it is superficial and not deeply seated. The shell shows spiral striae over whole whorl, 5–6 on the sulcus, 14-15 (or more) below (visible in worn specimens only between the ribs) and c. 15 stronger and more widely spaced striae on base. The aperture is oblong-ovate. The outer lip has a thin border. The columella is upright and shows a small callus. The wide siphonal canal is shallow^[2] The shell shows a vestigial varix and fasciole.

Distribution

This marine species occurs off Jeffrey's Bay - Northeast Cape, South Africa

References

• Kilburn, R.N. & Rippey, E. (1982) Sea Shells of Southern Africa. Macmillan South Africa, Johannesburg, xi + 249 pp. page(s): 117
• Kilburn R.N. (1988), Turridae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) of southern Africa and Mozambique. Part 4. Subfamilies Drilliinae, Crassispirinae and Strictispirinae; Ann. Natal Mus. Vol. 29(1) pp. 167–320
• Steyn, D.G. & Lussi, M. (1998) Marine Shells of South Africa. An Illustrated Collector’s Guide to Beached Shells. Ekogilde Publishers, Hartebeespoort, South Africa, ii + 264 pp. page(s): 152