Liotella rotula

Liotella rotula
Original drawing of a shell of Liotella rotula
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Vetigastropoda
Order:	Trochida
Superfamily:	Trochoidea
Family:	Skeneidae
Genus:	Liotella
Species:	L. rotula
Binomial name
Liotella rotula (Suter, 1908) [1]
Synonyms
Liotia rotula Suter, 1908 Cyclostremella neozelanica Suter, 1908 Liotella rotuloides Powell, 1937

Liotella rotula is a species of minute sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Skeneidae. ^[2]

Description

The height of the shell attains 1 mm, its diameter 1.7 mm. This thin, white, translucent shell has a discoidal shape and is widely umbilicate. The flat spire consists of 4 whorls, including the 2 narrow, smooth, convex whorls of the slightly raised protoconch. The shell is ornamented with many radial riblets and intercostal spiral striae. The rounded, elevated spiral riblets are prominent. These are much closer together on approaching the aperture. The Interstices are distantly microscopically spirally striate. The large, convex body whorl contains 17 radial riblets. It is rounded at the periphery, but convex at the base. The sutures are impressed. The aperture is rounded. The thin peristome is continuous, thickened by the last radiate rib. The columella is arcuate, not reflexed. The umbilicus is wide. Its perspective shows all the whorls. ^{[3] [4]}

Distribution

This marine species is endemic to New Zealand.

References

1. Suter (1908), Additions to the Marine Molluscan Fauna of New Zealand, with Descriptions of New Species, Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London v.8 (1908-1909); pl. II # 6
2. Rosenberg, G. (2012). Liotella rotula (Suter, 1908). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=598366 on 2012-09-11
3. A.W.B. Powell, The Molluscan Fauna of Northern New Zealand; Discovery Reports v.15 1937
4. Suter H. (1913-1915), Manual of New Zealand Mollusca; Wellington, N. Z. :J. Mackay, govt. printer,1913-1915

• Powell A. W. B., New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN   0-00-216906-1
• Spencer, H.G.; Marshall, B.A.; Maxwell, P.A.; Grant-Mackie, J.A.; Stilwell, J.D.; Willan, R.C.; Campbell, H.J.; Crampton, J.S.; Henderson, R.A.; Bradshaw, M.A.; Waterhouse, J.B.; Pojeta, J. Jr (2009). Phylum Mollusca: chitons, clams, tusk shells, snails, squids, and kin, in: Gordon, D.P. (Ed.) (2009). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: 1. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia. pp. 161–254
• The New Zealand Mollusca: Liotella rotula