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CERITHIOPSIDAE |
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Clathropsis alternata (Laseron, 1951) Description: Shell medium size for the family, conical, moderately wide, spire almost straight in outline. Protoconch of 4 smooth very tall whorls. Teleoconch whorls rounded with deeply impressed suture; 4 spiral cords per whorl, with a secondary spiral developing between each primary; secondaries increasing in strength with growth. Spirals crossed by axial ribs, 26 on last whorl, forming weak nodules at intersections. Last whorl with an additional smooth spiral level with top of aperture, base concave below. Outer lip thin, crenulated by external sculpture. Anterior canal a deep U-shaped notch. Shell translucent, irregularly marked with fawn and light brown. Size: Holotype 3.6 mm in length. Distribution: Holotype from Port Stephens, NSW. Other material available (5 lots): Bare Island, Botany Bay; Fingal Bay, Port Stephens; Werri Beach; Manly Beach; O'Hara Head. Habitat: Holotype from beach washup. Abundance unknown. Remarks: This species is variable in sculpture, with the secondary spirals varying from nearly absent to stronger than shown in the holotype. There are further specimens which are much more slender than the holotype, and may or may not be another species. Figs. 1, 2: Port Stephens, NSW (C.102759 HOLOTYPE) |
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