Aristofusus couei

Aristofusus couei
Shell of Aristofusus couei (specimen in MNHN, Paris)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Family:	Fasciolariidae
Genus:	Aristofusus
Species:	A. couei
Binomial name
Aristofusus couei (Petit, 1853)
Synonyms [1]
Fusinus couei(Petit de la Saussaye, 1853) Fusus coueiPetit de la Saussaye, 1853 Heilprinia couei(Petit de la Saussaye, 1853)

Aristofusus couei, common name the Yucatan spindle, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Fasciolariidae, the spindle snails, the tulip snails and their allies. ^[1]

Description

The length of the shell attains 104 mm, its diameter 24 mm.

(Original description in French) The shell is fusiform, solid, and relatively heavy, with a white coloration covered by a straw-colored periostracum (epiderme). It is regularly sculptured with spiral grooves (sulcate).

The spire comprises eleven to twelve ventricose (swollen) whorls. The upper whorls are characterized by nodular axial folds (pleats).

The aperture is sub-circular (almost round). The columella is nearly straight and is coated with a white callus. This callus is translucent enough to reveal the internal projections corresponding to the exterior spiral sculpture.

The siphonal canal accounts for approximately half of the shell's total length. It is slightly open (or pervious) along its entire length and is recurved posteriorly (curved backward) at its distal end. ^[2]

Distribution

This species occurs in the Caribbean Sea off Yucatan, Mexico.

References

1. MolluscaBase eds. (2020). MolluscaBase. Aristofusus couei (Petit de la Saussaye, 1853). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1318059 on 2020-11-30
2. Petit de la Saussaye S. (1853). Description de deux coquilles nouvelles appartenant aux genres Fusus et Bulimus. Journal de Conchyliologie. 4(3): 249-251, pl. 8 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .

• Vermeij G.J. & Snyder M.A. (2018). Proposed genus-level classification of large species of Fusininae (Gastropoda, Fasciolariidae). Basteria. 82(4-6): 57-82.