Phasianella australis

Phasianella australis, common names the Australian pheasant, painted lady, and pheasant snail, is a medium-sized to large species of sea snail with a calcareous operculum and a colorfully patterned shell, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Phasianellidae.

Australian Pheasant
Drawing of a shell of Phasianella australis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Vetigastropoda
Superfamily:
Phasianelloidea
Family:
Turbinidae
Subfamily:
Phasianellinae
Genus:
Phasianella
Species:
P. australis
Binomial name
Phasianella australis
Gmelin, 1788
Synonyms
  • Buccinum tritonis Chemnitz, 1788
  • Bulimus phasianus Perry, G., 1810
  • Phasianella bulimoides Lamarck
  • Phasianella decorata Chenu
  • Phasianella delicatula Tenison-Woods, J.E., 1877
  • Phasianella lehmanni Menke, 1830
  • Phasianella picta DeBlain
  • Phasianella preissi Menke, 1830
  • Phasianella tritonis Chemnitz, 1788
  • Phasianella varia Lamarck

Description

This is the largest shell in the genus Phansianelle, with its height varying between 40 mm and 100 mm. The rather thin shell is elongatedand has a pointed-ovate shape. The conical spire is elevated. The shell contains 7-8 somewhat convex whorls. These are slightly flattened below the sutures. The long-ovate aperture is somewhat pyriform and forms usually less than half the total length of shell. The outer lip is thin. The columella shows more or less a white shining callus. The surface of the shell is variously longitudinally clouded and transversely articulated with red and purple olive on a polished flesh-colored, cream or white ground. The color pattern is extremely variable.[1]

Distribution

This marine species occurs off Australia and Tasmania.

References
  1. G.W. Tryon (1888), Manual of Conchology X; Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia
  • Rosenberg, G. 1992. Encyclopedia of Seashells. Dorset: New York. 224 pp.
  • Wilson, B. (1993). Australian Marine Shells. Prosobranch Gastropods. Kallaroo, WA : Odyssey Publishing. Vol.1 1st Edn
  • Australian Govt
  • Sea Snails Species
  • Australian Government Species Bank
  • "Phasianella australis". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
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