Constantia (gastropod)

Constantia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Littorinimorpha
Family:	Vanikoridae
Genus:	Constantia A. Adams, 1860
Synonyms
Scala (Constantia)A. Adams, 1860 Scalaria (Constantia)A. Adams, 1860

Constantia is a genus of extremely small sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks or micromollusks in the family Vanikoridae. ^[1]

General characteristics

(Original description in Latin) The shell is sharply pointed at one end and oval, with a narrow umbilical fissure, and possesses an elevated and attenuated spire. The whorls are rounded, with the body whorl being ventricose. The surface is decussate with fine longitudinal folds and elevated transverse spiral ridges. The aperture is oval, being longer than wide. The peristome is free and continuous, with a margin that is entire and sharp. ^[2]

Species

Species within the genus Constantia include:

• Constantia acutocostata Bandel & Kowalke, 1997
• Constantia elegans A. Adams, 1860
• Constantia standeni (Melvill, 1899)
• Constantia tantilla A. Adams, 1861

References

1. Bouchet, P. (2012). Constantia A. Adams, 1860. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=525631 on 2012-08-28
2. Adams A. (1860). On some new genera and species of Mollusca from Japan. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (3) 5: 299-303 405-413 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .

• Warén A. & Bouchet P. (1988) A new species of Vanikoridae from the western Mediterranean, with remarks on the Northeast Atlantic species of the family. Bollettino Malacologico 24(5-8): 73-100.