Stellatoma mellissi
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SPECIES
Stellatoma mellissi

Stellatoma mellissi is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Mangeliidae.

Appearance

The adult shell grows to a length of 5 mm, its diameter 2 mm.

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The small shell is fusiform-ovate. It has a reddish color and a darker reddish color at the sutures. The body whorl has a red band in the middle. The shell contains 6½ whorls. The 2½ protoconch whorls are convex and smooth. The third whorl is convex and is slightly obliquely lirate. The others have a broad sloping shoulder and a greatly rounded anterior portion. They show about 14 axial ribs. The spiral sculpture consists of 3 cords in the upperwhorls and 16-20 in the body whorl. The aperture is elongate-ovate, measuring about half the total length. The outer lip is marked by transverse striations and is incrassate with a strong denticle close to the posterior sinus. The microscopic structure of this species appears under the microscope to consist of numerous spiral series of very minute grain-like scales, which, at times, are arranged one under the other, so as to produce the appearance of a longitudinal series.

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Distribution

Geography

This species is found in the Atlantic Ocean off St. Helena.

References

1. Stellatoma mellissi Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellatoma_mellissi

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