Polystira vibex

Polystira vibex
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Family:	Turridae
Genus:	Polystira
Species:	P. vibex
Binomial name
Polystira vibex (Dall, 1889)
Synonyms [1]
Pleurotoma albida var. vibexDall, 1889 Pleurotoma antillarumCrosse, 1865 (uncertain synonym; invalid: junior homonym of Pleurotoma antillarumd'Orbigny, 1847) Pleurotoma vibexDall, 1889

Polystira vibex is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Turridae, the turrids. ^[1]

Description

The length of the shell attains 19.6 mm, its width 4.75 mm.

The shell resembles in a general way the young of Polystira albida of the same size. The protoconch is the same. The spiral sculpture resembles that of P. albida but is flat-topped instead of sharp. The transverse sculpture is less prominent, the spirals somewhat more numerous. The chief character which strikes one on comparing the P. vibex with P. albida is that the shell is surrounded with bands of olive-green color, polished, narrow and resident in the epidermis, but visible through the translucent shell in the aperture. These bands sometimes fill the spiral channels. Sometimes there are two olive bands separated by a pale one between two of the elevated spirals. Sometimes the flat tops of the spirals are thus colored. In general there will be about ten of these olive stripes on the body whorl. They extend only over the whorl, the pillar from its junction with the body is destitute of them, and, when fresh, is of a delicate rose color, which is apt to fade. This white or rosy rostrum contrasts vividly with the striped body and spire. ^[2]

Distribution

P. vibex can be found in Caribbean waters, ranging from the eastern coast of Florida south to the Lesser Antilles. ^[3]

References

1. Polystira vibex (Dall, 1889) . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 5 April 2010.
2. Dall W. H. 1889. Reports on the results of dredging, under the supervision of Alexander Agassiz, in the Gulf of Mexico (1877-78) and in the Caribbean Sea (1879-80), by the U.S. Coast Survey Steamer "Blake", Lieut.-Commander C.D. Sigsbee, U.S.N., and Commander J.R. Bartlett, U.S.N., commanding. XXIX. Report on the Mollusca. Part 2, Gastropoda and Scaphopoda. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy at Harvard College 18: 1-492, pls. 10-40 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
3. Tunnell, John W., Jr., Felder, Darryl L., & Earle, Sylvia A., eds. Gulf of Mexico Origin, Waters, and Biota, Volume 1: Biodiversity. Texas A&M University Press, 2009. 669.

• Rosenberg, G.; Moretzsohn, F.; García, E. F. (2009). Gastropoda (Mollusca) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 579–699 in: Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas.

External links

• Crosse H. (1865). Description d'espèces nouvelles de la Guadeloupe. Journal de Conchyliologie. 13(1): 27–38, 1 pl
• Todd J.A. & Rawlings T.A. (2014). A review of the Polystira clade — the Neotropic's largest marine gastropod radiation (Neogastropoda: Conoidea: Turridae sensu stricto). Zootaxa. 3884(5): 445-491