Amphithalamus ornatus

The length of the shell attains 1.3 mm, its diameter 0.8 mm.

(Original description) The shell is minute, solid, conical, and imperforate. The protoconch is dome-shaped, consisting of 1 1/2 whorls, and is sculptured with about twelve spiral rows of minute, round, shallow pits spaced alternately with those of the rows immediately above and below, thus giving a honeycomb effect.

The shell consists of 4 1<2 whorls. The spire is conic with straight outlines. The spire-whorls are sculptured with two spiral keels, the upper one being crossed by slightly oblique strong axial ribs. The body whorl features an additional three plain spiral keels on its base.

The aperture is oblique and oval, slightly constricted above. The peristome is duplicated and continuous, with a smooth, raised inner margin surrounded by an expanded, slightly concave area, which is widest above and on the parietal wall, with its outer edge bounded. ^[2]

This species is endemic to New Zealand and occurs off the north-eastern North Island as far south as Mayor Island.

• Powell, A.W.B. 1979 New Zealand Mollusca: Marine, Land and Freshwater Shells, Collins, Auckland
• Spencer, H.G., Marshall, B.A. & Willan, R.C. (2009). Checklist of New Zealand living Mollusca. Pp 196-219. in: Gordon, D.P. (ed.) New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume one. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch.