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Amalda edithae (Pritchard & Gabriel, 1898)

Description: Shell slender, aperture one-third to one-half of total shell length.  Spire calloused, callus terminating in front of the aperture; suture covered by callus.  Spire whorls spirally ribbed, ribs ending at aperture.  Body whorl with calloused subsutural band, edged by a weak groove.  Non-calloused part of body whorl with microscopic axial and spiral striae.  Columellar pillar with about 5 plaits; fasciolar band with weak central ridge, upper and lower halves flat and smooth; ancillid band deeply excavated.  Non-calloused areas of body whorl fawn, with fine axial zigzag brown lines; subsutural band with oblique brown patches, visible on the spire whorls as well as body whorl; another spiral brown band above the ancillid groove; fasciolar band fawn, sometimes with irregular brown streaks; pillar area white.  Operculum brown, corneous.

Size: Up to 15 mm in length

Distribution: Endemic to Australia ; Newcastle , NSW, to Fremantle , Western Australia .

Habitat: Taken as empty beach shells, and down to 180 metres.  Rare in NSW, more common in southern Australia .

Comparison: In NSW, this species is known from only a few specimens, all subtidal.  It is the most slender of the genus, with a ribbed spire and two spiral brown bands.  The colouration is similar to A. oblonga, but that is wider with an inflated body whorl, and has a smooth spire.

Synonym: Amalda sydneyensis Ninomiya, 1991

Figs. 1,2: Newcastle, NSW (C.166164)

 


Copyright Des Beechey 2004