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DENTALIIDAE |
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Paradentalium intercalatum (Gould, 1859) Description: Shape moderately to strongly curved. Weight solid. Aperture diameter up to 3.3 mm. Apex diameter 2.0 mm. Sculpture at the apex 6–9 strong longitudinal ribs, a rib developing in each interspace, making 12 or more at aperture; interstices deeply concave, smooth. Transverse sculpture absent. Aperture polygonal or circular. Colour white. Size: Up to 30 mm in length. Distribution: Global distribution: China Sea, Philippine Islands, Australia (Scarabino, 1995). Within Australia: across northern Australia, from northern WA to southern Qld, plus a few records from SA and one from central NSW. Habitat: Littoral sand and dredged down to 668 m (Lamprell & Healy, 1998). Common in the tropics, rare in NSW. Comparison: In this species there are 6–9 ribs present initially, but as the shell grows an additional rib develops in each interspace. Thus, for example, in the specimen shown in Fig. 1, an intermediate rib commences at the drill hole and thickens towards the aperture. Fig. 1: Port Curtis, Qld (C.311189). |
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