Natica stellata is a species of predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Naticidae, the moon snails.[1]
Description
This species is similar in overall shape to Natica vitellus, but it differs markedly in coloration. The shell is a rich, saturated orange and is ornamented with spiral rows of white spots across the body whorl. A distinctive pink parietal callus forms a tongue-shaped extension that partially covers the posterior portion of the umbilicus.
The operculum is calcareous, white in colour, and bears two to three marginal ribs. An internal corneous operculum is attached to the foot along a central axis, while its margins remain free.
The radula is characterized by tricuspid rachidian teeth, with the two basal accessory cusps mounted on a broad basal shield. The lateral teeth are likewise tricuspid, whereas both the inner and outer marginal teeth are simple and unicuspid. [2]
Distribution
This species occurs in the Indo- West Pacific; also off Australia (Queensland)
References
- ^ Natica stellata Hedley, 1913. 15June 2026. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species.
- ^ Cernohorsky, W.O. (1971). “The Family Naticidae (Mollusca, Gastropoda) in the Fiji islands”. Records of the Auckland Museum. 6: 176. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is under a CC BY 4.0 license.
- Hollman M. (2008) Naticidae. In Poppe G.T. (ed.) Philippine marine mollusks, vol. 1: 482-501, pls 186-195. Hackenheim: Conchbooks.
- Zhang S.-P. [Suping]. (2016). Fauna Sinica. Invertebrata 56. Mollusca: Gastropoda: Strombacea and Naticacea. Beijing: Science Press. 317 pp., 10 pls.
- Saito, H. (2017). Family Naticidae. Pp. 858-866, in: T. Okutani (ed.), Marine Mollusks in Japan, ed. 2. 2 vols. Tokai University Press. 1375 pp.
External links
- Hedley, C. (1913). “Studies on Australian Mollusca, part XI”. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 38 (2): 299–300. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
- Torigoe K. & Inaba A. (2011). “Revision on the classification of Recent Naticidae” (PDF). Bulletin of the Nishinomiya Shell Museum. 7: 133.