Alcithoe wilsonae
| Alcithoe wilsonae | |
|---|---|
| File:Alcithoe wilsonae MA70581-a.jpg | |
| Holotype from the Auckland War Memorial Museum | |
| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Neogastropoda |
| Family: | Volutidae |
| Genus: | Alcithoe |
| Species: | A. wilsonae
|
| Binomial name | |
| Alcithoe wilsonae (A. W. B. Powell, 1933)
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Alcithoe wilsonae is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Volutidae, the volutes.[1] A highly morphologically varied species, it endemic to New Zealand, found on the Chatham Rise, off the coast of the eastern South Island, and on a section of the Campbell Plateau between the South Island and the Auckland Islands.
Description
[edit | edit source]In the original description, Powell described the species as follows:
Shell large, solid, fusiform. Spire half height of aperture. Nucleus damaged. Post-embryonic whorls 5, spire whorls sub-angled at the middle, body-whorl moderately inflated, contracting gradually to a feeble fasciole. Sculpture consisting of narrow axial ribs, extending from suture to suture on the spire whorls, and to just below the periphery on the body-whorl. These axials are thickened slightly in the middle, where they cross the subangle. On the last half-whorl they become sub-obsolete. There are 14 axials on the penultimate whorl and 12 on the ante-penultimate. Aperture elongate, with a moderately wide but very shallow basal notch. Columella straight, with four strong oblique plaits, upper-most strongest, lower three becoming weaker in descending order. Inner-lip spread as a thin glaze in one wide sweep over the body-whorl. Colour pinkish-buff, maculated with three zones of irregular zigzag markings of dark reddish-brown. Upper band below suture, middle band at periphery, and lower one bordering the fasciole.[2]
The holotype of the species measures 109 mm (4.3 in) in height (112 mm (4.4 in) estimated undamaged height) and 47 mm (1.9 in) in diameter.[2] The species has four strong pillar plaits.[3] It is a highly morphologically variable species.[4]
Taxonomy
[edit | edit source]A. wilsonae was first described by A.W.B. Powell in 1933, using the name Pachymelon (Palomelon) wilsonae.[2] The holotype was collected from Owenga Beach in the Chatham Islands by Miss B. M. Wilson in 1933.[5][6] In 1978, Richard Dell synonymised Pachymelon with the genus Alcithoe, recombining the species as Alcithoe wilsonae. In the same paper, Dell synonymised Pachymelon (Palomelon) grahami and Pachymelon (Palomelon) smithi with Alcithoe wilsonae.[7] In 2011, A. knoxi was synonymised with A. wilsonae.[8]
The species likely diverged from other members of Alcithoe between 4.6 and 13.1 million years ago.[8]
Distribution and habitat
[edit | edit source]The species is endemic to New Zealand, found in the waters of the Chatham Rise, the eastern South Island and a section of the Campbell Plateau between the South Island and the Auckland Islands.[9] The fossil record extends back to the Tongaporutuan stage of the Cenozoic Era (between 10,920,000 and 6,500,000 years ago).[4]
Gallery
[edit | edit source]-
Reverse view of holotype
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Type specimen (holotype of Alcithoe wilsonae acuminata)
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Type specimen (holotype of Pachymelon (Palomelon) grahami)
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Type specimen (holotype of Pachymelon (Palomelon) smithi)
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Shell found near the Auckland Islands
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Shell found off the coast of eastern Otago
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References
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b Alcithoe wilsonae (A. W. B. Powell, 1933). 4 December 2025. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species.
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Further reading
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