Megastraea undosa

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Megastraea undosa
Lithopoma undosum.jpg
Shell and operculum of Megastraea undosa (W. Wood, 1828), measuring 71.4 mm height by 89.9 mm diameter, collected at Salt Creek Beach, Laguna Niguel, in California.
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Vetigastropoda
Order: Trochida
Superfamily: Trochoidea
Family: Turbinidae
Genus: Megastraea
Species:
M. undosa
Binomial name
Megastraea undosa
(W. Wood, 1828) [1]
Synonyms' [2]
  • Lithopoma undosum(W. Wood, 1828)
  • Astraea undosa(W. Wood, 1828)
  • Pomaulax undosumW. Wood, 1828
  • Trochus undosusW. Wood, 1828 (basionym)
An old empty shell of Megastraea undosa, wedged under a rock and covered in the pink coralline alga Lithothamnion, which has cemented it to the subtrate. Astraea undosa.jpg
An old empty shell of Megastraea undosa, wedged under a rock and covered in the pink coralline alga Lithothamnion , which has cemented it to the subtrate.

Megastraea undosa, common name the wavy turban snail, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails. [2] This species is native to the coast of California. [3]

Contents

Distribution

This species occurs in the eastern Pacific Ocean from California, USA to Central Baja California, Mexico.

Description

One of the largest gastropod shells found on the Southern California coast, this species varies between 40 mm and 145 mm. The shell lacks an umbilicus, and has a turbinate-conical shape. Like other shells of the family turbinidae it is composed of a thick inner nacreous layer, covered by a thinner porcellanous layer. In this species both are covered by a dark brown shaggy periostracum in life. The periphery of the shell forms a twisted ridge at the outer edge of each whorl. Each whorl also has regular, coarsely sculpted rows of fine knobs and folds. The base is marked with several spiral cords concentric to the arcuated columella which has a pearly groove. The unusual operculum has four strong ridges on its outer side decorated with hard shelly bristles that radiate in a curvilinear fashion from its pointed edge. [4] [5]

Habitat

This large snail inhabits rocky shores in shallow waters, generally protected areas below the low tide level.

Related Research Articles

<i>Lithopoma</i> Genus of gastropods

Lithopoma is a genus of medium-sized to large sea snails with a calcareous operculum, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Turbininae of the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

<i>Astraea</i> (gastropod) Genus of gastropods

Astraea is a genus of medium to large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

<i>Aforia circinata</i> Species of gastropod

Aforia circinata, common name the ridged turrid, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cochlespiridae.

<i>Drillia aerope</i> Species of gastropod

Drillia aerope is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Drilliidae.

<i>Bolma girgyllus</i> Species of gastropod

Bolma girgyllus, common name the girgyllus star snail, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

<i>Bolma persica</i> Species of gastropod

Bolma persica, common name the peach bolma, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

<i>Tectus mauritianus</i> Species of gastropod

Tectus mauritianus, common name the Mauritius top shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

<i>Pomaulax</i> Genus of sea snails

Pomaulax is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

<i>Turbo fluctuosus</i> Species of gastropod

Turbo fluctuosus, common name the wavy turban, is a species of sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae.

<i>Turbo saxosus</i> Species of gastropod

Turbo saxosus, common name the stony turban, is a species of sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae.

<i>Turbo chrysostomus</i> Species of gastropod

Turbo chrysostomus, common name the gold-mouth turban, is a species of sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae.

<i>Turbo intercostalis</i> Species of gastropod

Turbo intercostalis, common name the ribbed turban, is a species of sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae.

<i>Turbo setosus</i> Species of gastropod

Turbo setosus, common name the rough turban, is a species of sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae.

<i>Turbo laminiferus</i> Species of gastropod

Turbo laminiferus, common name the crinkly turban, is a species of sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae.

<i>Turbo sarmaticus</i> Species of gastropod

Turbo sarmaticus, common names South African turban, giant turban, ollycrock, or alikreukel, is a species of sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae.

<i>Megastraea turbanica</i> Species of gastropod

Megastraea turbanica, common name the turban star shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

<i>Uvanilla olivacea</i> Species of gastropod

Uvanilla olivacea, common name the blood-spotted star shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

<i>Bolma bartschii</i> Species of gastropod

Bolma bartschii, common name Bartsch's star bolma, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

<i>Bolma henica</i> Species of gastropod

Bolma henica, common name the deep sea star shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

<i>Turbo crassus</i> Species of gastropod

Turbo crassus, common name the crass turban, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

References