Margarella whiteana is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calliostomatidae, the top snails.[1]

Margarella whiteana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Vetigastropoda
Order: Trochida
Superfamily: Trochoidea
Family: Calliostomatidae
Genus: Margarella
Species:
M. whiteana
Binomial name
Margarella whiteana
Linse, 2002

Distribution edit

This marine species occurs off the Antarctic Peninsula at depths between 3 m and 28 m.

Description edit

The animal itself is a pale yellow in color.[1] It has two pairs of short cephalic tentacles with large black eyes on the posterior side of the tentacles.[1]

The shell is small, and wider than it is tall, at up to 7.6mm in height and 8.7 in diameter. The shell is covered in many spiral ribs, and lacks a periostracum.[1] The maximum recorded shell length is 8.7 mm.[2]

Habitat edit

Minimum recorded depth is 3 m.[2] Maximum recorded depth is 28 m.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Bouchet, P. (2010). Margarella whiteana Linse, 2002. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=197259 on 2011-03-17
  2. ^ a b c Welch J. J. (2010). "The "Island Rule" and Deep-Sea Gastropods: Re-Examining the Evidence". PLOS One 5(1): e8776. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0008776.
  • Linse, K. 2002. The shelled Magellanic Mollusca: with special reference to biogeographic relations in the Southern Ocean. Theses Zoologicae 34: [iv] + vii + 252 pp. A. R. G. Gantner: Ruggell, Lichtenstein.