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EULIMIDAE |
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Melanella obtusa (Laseron, 1955) Description: Shell relatively small, protoconch relatively large, spire strongly bent. Whorls convex, suture well defined. Scars from position of outer lip, one per whorl, aligned from whorl to whorl. Aperture moderately broad, one-quarter of shell length; inner lip slightly reflected over base. Outer lip convex in profile, with a shallow sinus at top. Shell colourless transparent or translucent white, polished, glossy. Size: Up to 4.1 mm in length. Distribution: Endemic to Australia. Southern Queensland southwards and around southern Australia to south-western WA, including Tasmania. Habitat: Most specimens are empty shells from beach washup. Host unknown. Common. Remarks: Curveulima lata Laseron, 1955 and Curveulima subobtusa Laseron 1955 are known only from their holotypes. They are very close to M. obtusa and are probably the same species, but more specimens are required to make a confident decision. Fig. 1: Manly Beach, Sydney, NSW (C.103012 SYNTYPE) |
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