Pulsarella fultoni
Species of gastropod
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pulsarella fultoni, common name the humbug turrid, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Borsoniidae.[1]
| Pulsarella fultoni | |
|---|---|
| |
| Shell of Pulsarella fultoni | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Neogastropoda |
| Superfamily: | Conoidea |
| Family: | Borsoniidae |
| Genus: | Pulsarella |
| Species: | P. fultoni |
| Binomial name | |
| Pulsarella fultoni (G.B. Sowerby III, 1888) | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Description
The length of the shell varies between 20 mm and 32 mm. The elongate shell has a sharp spire. It has a pale grey color with dark, longitudinal, irregularly scattered strigae, tinted on both sides in a dark color. The shell contains 11 whorls. The sutures are hardly impressed. The body whorl is slightly convex with 7 - 8 carinae. The small aperture is elongate-oval. The outer lip is deeply sinuated. The siphonal canal is very short.[2]
Distinguishing features
The shell is robust with a moderately elevated spire that tapers to a sharp point. The outer lip is thin, featuring a U-shaped anal sinus positioned just below the suture. The surface is adorned with widely spaced spiral cords: one below the apical suture, one at the periphery (aligned with the basal suture), and a third between them. Additionally, several finer cords decorate the base. The spaces between the cords are concave, giving the shell a hollowed appearance.[3]
Fresh specimens range from orange-brown to dark brown, with contrasting white spiral cords. The inner lip and base are a deeper purplish-brown. In dead specimens, colors tend to fade.[3]
Distribution
This marine species is endemic to South Africa and occurs off False Bay, South Transkei and the Agulhas Bank at depths between 20 m and 85 m.[3]
