Vexillum unifasciale is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk, in the family Costellariidae, the ribbed miters.[1]

Vexillum unifasciale
Vexillum unifasciale
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Turbinelloidea
Family: Costellariidae
Genus: Vexillum
Species:
V. unifasciale
Binomial name
Vexillum unifasciale
(Lamarck, 1811)
Synonyms[1]
  • Mitra fratercula Garrett, 1873
  • Mitra hemprichi Jickeli, 1874 ·
  • Mitra unifascialis Lamarck, 1811
  • Vexillum (Pusia) unifasciale (Lamarck, 1811)
  • Vexillum (Pusia) unifascialis (Lamarck, 1811)

Description

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Juvenile

The length of the shell attains 19 mm, its diameter 8 mm; the length can attain 29 mm.

(Described as Mitra fratercula) The oblong shell is subfusiform, solid, shining and, contracted at the base. The spire is moderately elevated, acute, brownish-yellow, transversely lineated with deep brown, and adorned with a spiral white band. The shell contains 8-9 whorls, plano-convex, slightly shouldered, longitudinally ribbed. The ribs are small, closely set, angular, 16 to 18 in number, slightly nodulose above, and the interstices remotely transversely impressedly striated. The body whorl is large, roundly convex, granulated towards the base. The aperture is narrow, little less than half the length of the shell, bluish white and lyrate within. The columella has four folds.

The animal is light brown, dotted and mottled with yellowish white.

This is a very rare species, found under stones on reefs.[2]

Distribution

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This marine species occurs in the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and in the Indo-West Pacific and Polynesia (Tahiti, Rarotonga, Samoa, and Hawaii); also off the Philippines and Japan; also off Australia (New South Wales, Queensland and Papua New Guinea)

References

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  • Lamarck, J.P.B.A de M. 1811. Suite de la détermination des espèces de mollusques testacés, Mitre (Mitra). Annales du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris 17: 54–80, 195-222
  • Turner H. 2001. Katalog der Familie Costellariidae Macdonald, 1860. Conchbooks. 1-100 page(s): 66
  • Drivas, J. & M. Jay (1988). Coquillages de La Réunion et de l'île Maurice
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