Afrolittorina knysnaensis

Afrolittorina knysnaensis, common name the southern periwinkle, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.[1]

Afrolittorina knysnaensis
A shell of Afrolittorina knisnaensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Family: Littorinidae
Genus: Afrolittorina
Species:
A. knysnaensis
Binomial name
Afrolittorina knysnaensis
(Philippi, 1847)
Synonyms[1]
  • Afrolittorina africana tryphena Bartsch, 1915
  • Litorina africana tryphena Bartsch, 1915
  • Litorina knysnaensis Krauss in Philippi, 1847
  • Littorina africana pica Turton, 1932
  • Littorina indistincta Turton, 1932
  • Littorina knysnaensis Philippi, 1847
  • Littorina kowiensis Turton, 1932
  • Littorina picea Reeve, 1857
  • Littorina rietensis Turton, 1932
  • Nodilittorina indistincta Turton, 1932
  • Nodilittorina knysnaensis (Krauss in Philippi, 1847)
  • Nodilittorina kowiensis Turton, 1932
  • Nodilittorina picea Reeve, 1857
  • Nodilittorina rietensis Turton, 1932

Description edit

The size of the shell varies between 9 mm and 15 mm. Its color varies from brown with a pattern of dots with a dark ring around its every whorl, to pure black. The smooth shell has a conical shape with a short spire. The aperture is subcircular and has a transparent, horny operculum.

Distribution edit

This marine species occurs off Namibia to Southern KwaZuluNatal; in the Indian Ocean off Réunion.

References edit

  1. ^ a b Afrolittorina knysnaensis (Philippi, 1847). Reid, David G. (2010). Afrolittorina knysnaensis (Philippi, 1847). In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=446837 on 6 June 2010 .
  • Paul Bartsch (1915), Report on the Turton Collection of South African Marine Mollusks, with Additional Notes on other South African Shells Contained in the United States National Museum; Smithsonian Institution, United States National Museum, bulletin 91.
  • Kilburn, R.N. & Rippey, E. (1982) Sea Shells of Southern Africa. Macmillan South Africa, Johannesburg, xi + 249 pp. page(s): 50
  • Steyn, D.G. & Lussi, M. (1998) Marine Shells of South Africa. An Illustrated Collector’s Guide to Beached Shells. Ekogilde Publishers, Hartebeespoort, South Africa, ii + 264 pp. page(s): 32
  • George M. Branch,C. l. Griffiths,M. L. Branch,L. E. Beckley, Two Oceans: A Guide to the Marine Life of Southern Africa
  • Reid, D.G. & Williams, S.T. (2004) The subfamily Littorininae (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) in the temperate Southern Hemisphere: the genera Nodilittorina, Austrolittorina and Afrolittorina. Records of the Australian Museum 56: 75122

External links edit

  • "Afrolittorina knysnaensis". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  • Animal Base : Afrolittorina knysnaensis
  • Ispot.org: Afrolittorina knysnaensis
  • Worldwide Molluscan Species Data Base: Afrolittorina knysnaensis