Architectonica maxima, common name giant sundial, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Architectonicidae, which are known as the staircase shells or sundials.[1]
| Giant sundial | |
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| Shell of Architectonica maxima from Japan at the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano | |
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| Species: | A. maxima
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| Binomial name | |
| Architectonica maxima (Philippi, 1849)
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Description edit
Architectonica maxima has a shell that reaches 19 – 82 mm[2] and it is the largest member of the sundial family. This shell is low-spired and quite flattened, with a beaded surface. The shoulder slope is divided into two ribs by a spiral groove.[3] The basic color is cream, with brown spots.
Distribution edit
This species can be found in the Indo-Pacific, from East Africa and the Persian Gulf to western Pacific, Japan, eastern Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Hawaii.[2][4][5][3]
Habitat edit
Giant sundial is a carnivore deeper water sea snail living on sandy patches and muddy sublittoral bottoms,[3] close to soft corals, at a depth of 10 – 280 m.[5]
References edit
- ^ a b WoRMS
- ^ a b "Architectonica (Maxima-group) maxima". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
- ^ a b c Ftp.fao[permanent dead link]
- ^ Discover Life
- ^ a b Sealifebase
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