Fossarina patula is a species of very small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc or micromollusk in the family Trochidae, the top snails.[1]
Description
The shell grows to a length of 6 mm. The shell is widely umbilicated, with alternate larger and smaller tuberculated spiral ribs. The ribs are simple on the base. The umbilicus is acutely carinate-margined. The shell is whitish, sparsely maculated with dark brown. The three whorls are convex. The outer lip is ascending posteriorly.
Distribution
This marine species is endemic to Australia and occurs off New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria
References
- Adams, S. & Angas, G.F. 1863. Descriptions of new species from Australian seas, in the collection of George French Angas. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1863(III): 418-428, pl. xxxvii
- Angas, G.F. 1871. Descriptions of thirty-four new species of shells from Australia. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1871: 13-20
- Tenison-Woods, J.E. 1881. On some new marine Mollusca. Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 17: 80-83
- Whitelegge, T. 1889. List of the Marine and Freshwater Invertebrate Fauna of Port Jackson and the Neighbourhood. Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 23: 1-161
- Henn, A.U. & Brazier, J.W. 1894. List of Mollusca found at Green Point, Watson's Bay, Sydney. With a few remarks upon some of the most interesting species and descriptions of new species. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 2 9: 165-182
- Tate, R. & May, W.L. 1901. A revised census of the marine Mollusca of Tasmania. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 26(3): 344-471
- Kesteven, H.L. 1902. The systematic position of the genus Fossarina, A.Adams and Angas, and of Fossarina varia, Hutton. Records of the Australian Museum 4(7): 317-322
- Pritchard, G.B. & Gatliff, J.H. 1902. Catalogue of the marine shells of Victoria. Part V. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 14(2): 85-138
- Hedley, C. 1918. A checklist of the marine fauna of New South Wales. Part 1. Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 51: M1-M120
- Iredale, T. & McMichael, D.F. 1962. A reference list of the marine Mollusca of New South Wales. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 11: 1-109
- Wilson, B. 1993. Australian Marine Shells. Prosobranch Gastropods. Kallaroo, Western Australia : Odyssey Publishing Vol. 1 408 pp.
