Comitas melvilli is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Pseudomelatomidae, the turrids and allies.[1]

Comitas melvilli
Original image of a shell of Comitas melvilli
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Conoidea
Family: Pseudomelatomidae
Genus: Comitas
Species:
C. melvilli
Binomial name
Comitas melvilli
( Schepman, 1913)
Synonyms[1]

Surcula melvilli Schepman, 1913

Description edit

The length of the shell attains 62 mm, its diameter 20 mm.

(Original description) The thin, shortly fusiform shell has a long spire. It is light yellowish red-brown. The protoconch is wanting. The 11 subsequent whorls are angularly convex, concave above, lower part with very oblique, somewhat irregular ribs, forming small tubercles on the upper whorls, thick folds on the lower ones. These ribs are not visible in the excavation, their number is 22 on the body whorl. tTe whole shell is covered with fine growth striae, intermingled with some coarser ones and very numerous, waved, spiral lirae, as well on the ribs as in the interstices and in the subsutural excavation. The body whorl is rapidly attenuated below periphery, ending in a rather short, relatively very slender siphonal canal, which is nearly white and sculptured with spirals in the same manner as the rest of shell. The aperture is oval, with a blunt angle above. The peristome is thin, fragile, the sinus according to growth lines probably wide, but not very deep. The columellar margin is regularly curved, but suddenly directed to the left, at the entrance of the siphonal canal, which is contortedly directed to the left. The columellar margin shows a white layer of enamel. The interior of the aperture is brown and smooth.[2]

Distribution edit

This marine species occurs in the Timor Sea, Indonesia.

References edit

  1. ^ a b MolluscaBase (2018). Comitas melvilli (Schepman, 1913). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=433353 on 14 June 2018
  2. ^ Schepman, 1913. The prosobranchia of the Siboga expedition. Part IV -V - VI: Toxoglossa   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

External links edit

  • Tucker, J.K. (2004). "Catalog of recent and fossil turrids (Mollusca: Gastropoda)" (PDF). Zootaxa. 682: 1–1295.
  • "Comitas melvilli". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 15 January 2019.