Steromphala nivosa
Species of gastropod
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Steromphala nivosa, common name the Maltese top shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Trochidae, the top snails.[1]
| Steromphala nivosa | |
|---|---|
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| Steromphala nivosa specimens at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Vetigastropoda |
| Order: | Trochida |
| Family: | Trochidae |
| Subfamily: | Cantharidinae |
| Genus: | Steromphala |
| Species: | S. nivosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Steromphala nivosa (A. Adams, 1851) | |
| Synonyms | |
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Description
The size of the shell varies between 6 mm and 9 mm. The umbilicate shell has an orbiculate-conoidal shape. It is gray with almost round spots. It is sulcate in a crosswise direction and longitudinally substriate. The aperture is almost round. The columella is flexuous. The base of the shell is rounded.[2]
Distribution
This species occurs in the Mediterranean Sea off Malta.