Alaginella atractus

Alaginella atractus
Shell of Alaginella atractus (specimen in the Natural History Museum Rotterdam)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Family:	Marginellidae
Genus:	Alaginella
Species:	A. atractus
Binomial name
Alaginella atractus (Tomlin, 1918)
Synonyms
Alaginella julia(Thiele, 1925) Marginella atractusTomlin, 1918 (original combination) Marginella juliaThiele, 1925 (junior synonym) Marginella kowiensisW. H. Turton, 1932 Marginella paulaThiele, 1925 (junior synonym) Marginella zeyheri var. kowiensisW. H. Turton, 1932 (junior synonym) Volvarina julia(Thiele, 1925) (junior synonym) Volvarina paula(Thiele, 1925) (junior synonym)

Alaginella atractus is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Marginellidae, the margin snails. ^[1]

Description

The shell of Alaginella atractus reaches a length of up to 7.2 mm. The species is mainly identified by its distinctive, small shell. Its general morphology is typical of the Marginellidae family, with a smooth and glossy surface, an elongated-oval outline, and a high spire. The aperture is long and narrow, and the outer lip is somewhat thickened, reflecting family characteristics. This shell structure allows it to be distinguished readily in collections and marine studies.

Distribution

This marine species are found in marine environments off the coast Port Alfred, South Africa.

References

1. Alaginella atractus (Tomlin, 1918) . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 24 April 2010.

• Tomlin, J.R. le B. (1918). Descriptions of three new species of Marginella from South Africa, with a note on M. sutoris Dunker. Journal of Conchology 15: 306–307, pl. 10.
• Turton W.H. (1932). Marine Shells of Port Alfred, S. Africa. Humphrey Milford, London, xvi + 331 pp., 70 pls.