Solariella obscura

Solariella obscura
Drawing with two views of a shell of Solariella obscura
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Vetigastropoda
Order:	Trochida
Superfamily:	Trochoidea
Family:	Solariellidae
Genus:	Solariella
Species:	S. obscura
Binomial name
Solariella obscura (Couthouy, 1838)
Synonyms
Ilanga carinataVerrill, A.E., 1882 Ilanga planulaVerrill, A.E., 1882 Machaeroplax albula(Gould, 1861) Machaeroplax bella(Verkrüzen, 1875) Machaeroplax carinataA. E. Verrill, 1882 Machaeroplax obscura(Couthouy, 1838) Machaeroplax planulaA. E. Verrill, 1882 Margarita bellaVerkrüzen, 1875 Margarita islandicaOdhner, N.H.J., 1910 Margarites albulaGould, A.A., 1861 Margarita cinereaeformisLeche, W., 1878 Margarita intermediaLeche, W., 1878 Margarita islandicaOdhner, 1910 Solariella laevisFriele, 1886 Solariella lewisaeWillett, 1946 Solariella multilirataOdhner, N.H.J., 1912 Turbo obscurusCouthouy, 1838 (original combination)

Solariella obscura, common name the obscure solarelle, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Solariellidae. ^[1]

Distribution

This marine species occurs circum-Arctic, in the Northern Pacific Ocean and in the Northern Atlantic Ocean

Description

The maximum recorded shell length is 8.9 mm. ^[2]

The thin, umbilicate shell has a conical shape. It is ashen, whitish or reddish in color. The surface is lusterless, the dull outer layer very thin, overlying a brilliantly iridescent nacre. The sculpture consists of a rather prominent spiral ridge or carina at the shoulder of each whorl, beneath which, on the peripheral portion of the whorl, there are several (generally 3 to 6) smaller lirae, often subobsolete. The entire base sometimes shows fine low concentric lirae, but usually they nearly disappear there, becoming visible again around the umbilicus. There are often traces of a few obscure spiral riblets above the supra-peripheral carina. Longitudinally the entire surface is marked by regular. rather close waves or folds, so low and obtuse as to be frequently almost indistinguishable. The spire is conical. The apex is rather blunt. The apical whorl is rather prominent, reddish, corneous or purplish, smooth and rounded. The suture is impressed. The 5½ whorls are convex and tubular. The body whorl is slightly convex beneath and carinated around the umbilicus. The aperture is oblique, and circular. Its margins are thin and arcuate. There is a slight angle at the base of the columellar lip. ^[3]

Habitat

Minimum recorded depth is 5 m. ^[2] Maximum recorded depth is 878 m. ^[2] It is commonly found on soft sediments, continental slopes, and cold-water benthic zones.

Ecology

Like many deep-sea gastropods, Solariella obscura is believed to be detritivores or micro grazer, feeding on organic matter, bacteria, and microalgae on the seafloor. It may also play a role in nutrient cycling within its ecosystem by breaking down organic particles. ^[4]

Reproduction

specific data on the reproduction behavior or S.obscura is lacking. However, members of the Solariellidae family typically reproduce via external fertilization, releasing eggs and sperm into water column. Larvae are planktonic, undergoing several stages of development before settling on the seafloor and metamorphosing into juveniles. ^[5]

References

1. Solariella obscura (Couthouy, 1838) . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 22 April 2010.
2. Welch J. J. (2010). "The "Island Rule" and Deep-Sea Gastropods: Re-Examining the Evidence". PLOS One 5(1): e8776. doi : 10.1371/journal.pone.0008776 .
3. Tryon (1889), Manual of Conchology XI, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia
4. Rex, Michael A.; Etter, Ron J.; Stuart, Carol T. (11 December 1997), "Large-scale patterns of species diversity in the deep-sea benthos", Marine Biodiversity, Cambridge University Press, pp. 94–121, ISBN   978-0-521-55222-6 , retrieved 30 May 2025
5. Turner, Lucy M.; Wilson, Nerida G. (2008). "Polyphyly across oceans: a molecular phylogeny of the Chromodorididae (Mollusca, Nudibranchia)" . Zoologica Scripta. 37 (1): 23–42. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6409.2007.00310.x. ISSN   1463-6409.

• Gofas, S.; Le Renard, J.; Bouchet, P. (2001). Mollusca, in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels, 50: pp. 180–213

External links

• "Solariella obscura". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.