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species

Cominella alertae Dell, 1956

kingdom Animalia - animals »  phylum Mollusca - mollusks »  class Gastropoda - gastropods »  order Neogastropoda »  family Cominellidae »  genus Cominella

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Cominella alertae

Author: Dell, R.K.

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Description

Shell of medium size, rather solid, body whorl inflated. Spire less than height of aperture, turreted. Whorls 4 to 5 plus protoconch of 2 whorls. About 100 specimens were obtained, but all are chalky and somewhat worn on the apex. Protoconch, however, is domeshaped and large, apparently originally with glossy surface, terminating with a number of closely spaced axials. Early sculpture of raised axial folds. A shoulder is soon formed high up on the whorl, and the axials then are raised into small, rounded nodules on the angle. Shoulder at first almost horizontal, but it gradually slopes as the whorl angulation is lowered. Angulation much less marked on the body whorl and the shoulder markedly concave. Spire whorls with raised, vertical, axial folds extending from the angulation to the lower suture, and curving as much reduced folds across the shoulder to the upper suture, gradually disappearing about the sutural level on the body whorl. They also tend to become obsolete across the last quarter of the body whorl. Shoulder with some six low, but rather broad, spiral cords which run across the axial threads. Spire whorls with some 5 or 6 finely incised spirals running round the whorl below the angulation. On the upper spire whorls the uppermost of these spirals runs just below the angulation, and accentuates the nodulations. This effect disappears across the penultimate whorl. Spirals increase on the body whorl, become obsolete medially, but are well marked on the base, some 16 being present across the body whorl and base.
Aperture constricted above by the concave shoulder, outer lip slightly thickened with a shallow broad posterior sinus. Inner lip with moderate thickening, slightly separated from parietal wall in some specimens. Fasciole prominent, marked off by a ridge. Fasciole surface drawn into a sharp median fold, portion between this fold and the demarcating ridge hollowed out, sculptured with close-spaced growth lines and fine spirals. Colour white, with thin pale brown epidermis. Height, 27,7 mm.; diameter, 12,5 mm. (Holotype).
Dell, R.K., 1956. The Archibenthal Mollusca of New Zealand.
Author: Jan Delsing

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