Amalda australis, common name the southern olive, is a medium-sized sea snail, a gastropod mollusc of the family Ancillariidae.[1]
| Amalda australis | |
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.JPG)
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| A shell of Amalda australis | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Neogastropoda |
| Family: | Ancillariidae |
| Genus: | Amalda |
| Species: | A. australis
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| Binomial name | |
| Amalda australis (Sowerby, 1830)
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| Synonyms | |
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Description
editThe length of the shell attains 52 mm, its diameter 23 mm.
The shell is elongate and fusiform, with a smooth, glossy surface. The spire is relatively short compared to the large body whorl, and the overall shape is sleek and streamlined, allowing the snail to easily burrow into sand. The coloration of the shell varies from creamy white to light brown, often with subtle darker bands or streaks. The aperture is long and narrow, with a thin outer lip. The inner lip and columella are typically coated with a thin callus. [2]
Habitat
editThese predatory snails live in the intertidal sand,[3] an environment that lends itself to high probability of fossilization.[4] Amalda australis fossils date back to the Pliocene and reveal morphological stasis.[5] [6]
Distribution
edit
This marine species is endemic to New Zealand.[3] and occurs off North Island and northern part of South Island down to Banks Peninsula. [7]
References
edit- ^ Sartori, A.; Rosenberg, G. (2014). Amalda australis (G.B. Sowerby I, 1830). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=409967 on 2014-01-30
- ^ Sowerby G.B. I (1830). Species Conchylirum or concise original descriptions and accompanied by figures of all the species of Recent shells, with their varieties. G.B. Sowerby, London. page(s): Species 27, pl. 211, fig. 1,2
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b Michaux, B. (1987). "An analysis of allozymic characters of four species of New Zealand Amalda (Gastropoda: Olividae: Ancillinae)". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 14 (3): 359–366. doi:10.1080/03014223.1987.10423006. ISSN 0301-4223.
- ^ Gemmell, Michael R.; Trewick, Steven A.; Hills, Simon F. K.; Morgan‐Richards, Mary (2019). "Phylogenetic topology and timing of New Zealand olive shells are consistent with punctuated equilibrium". Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research. 58 (1): 209–220. doi:10.1111/jzs.12342. ISSN 0947-5745.
- ^ Michaux, B. (1989). "Morphological variation of species through time". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 38 (3): 239–255. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.1989.tb01577.x. ISSN 0024-4066.
- ^ Reeve L.A. (1864). Monograph of the genus Ancillaria. In: Conchologia Iconica, vol. 15, pl. 1-12 and unpaginated text. L. Reeve & Co., London. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ New Zealand Mollusca: Amalda australis
- Olson, O.P. (1956). "The genus Baryspira (Mollusca) in New Zealand". New Zealand Geological Survey Paleontological Bulletin. 24: 12.
- Powell A W B, New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
- Glen Pownall, New Zealand Shells and Shellfish, Seven Seas Publishing Pty Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-85467-054-8
- Michaux, B. (1991). "The Evolution of the Ancillinae with Special Reference to New Zealand Tertiary and Recent Species of Amalda H. & A. Adams, 1853 (Gastropoda:Olividae:Ancillinae)". Venus. 50 (2): 130–149.
- Spencer, H.G., Marshall, B.A. & Willan, R.C. (2009). Checklist of New Zealand living Mollusca. Pp 196–219. in: Gordon, D.P. (ed.) New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume one. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch.
External links
edit- Suter, H. (1917). "Descriptions of new Tertiary Mollusca occurring in New Zealand, accompanied by a few notes on necessary changes in nomenclature". New Zealand Geological Survey Paleontological Bulletin. 5 (i–iv): 42.
