Merica melanostoma

Merica melanostoma is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cancellariidae, the nutmeg snails.[1]

Merica melanostoma
Apertural view of a shell of Merica melanostoma westralis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Caenogastropoda
clade Hypsogastropoda
clade Neogastropoda
Superfamily:
Cancellarioidea
Family:
Cancellariidae
Genus:
Merica
Species:
M. melanostoma
Binomial name
Merica melanostoma
(Sowerby, 1849)
Synonyms[1]

Cancellaria melanostoma Sowerby, 1849

Subspecies
  • Merica melanostoma melanostoma (Sowerby, G.B. II, 1849) [2]
  • Merica melanostoma westralis (Garrard, T.A., 1975) [3]

Description

The shell is whitish-orange and cream. Its size varies between 14mm and 38 mm, ending in a pointed apex. The shells are more globular than the rest of the genus, accented with rounded shoulders and deep sutures. The surface is covered with fine nodules.[4]

Distribution

This species is distributed in the Red Sea, Western Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Oman, West Australia and Northern Australia

References
  1. Merica melanostoma (Sowerby, 1849). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 30 October 2010.
  2. "Merica melanostoma melanostoma". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  3. "Merica melanostoma westralis". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  4. Richmond, M. (Ed.) (1997). A guide to the seashores of Eastern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean islands. Sida/Department for Research Cooperation, SAREC: Stockholm, Sweden. ISBN 91-630-4594-X. 448 pp


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