Oxystele variegata, common name the variegated topshell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Trochidae, the top snails.[1]

Oxystele variegata
Oxystele variegata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Vetigastropoda
Order: Trochida
Superfamily: Trochoidea
Family: Trochidae
Genus: Oxystele
Species:
O. variegata
Binomial name
Oxystele variegata
(Anton, 1839)
Synonyms
  • Diloma variegata (Anton, 1838)
  • Oxystele impervius Menke, Schwarz, 1910
  • Oxystele sagittifera Lamarck, Smith, 1903
  • Oxystele sagittifera var. rufanensis Turton, 1932
  • Oxystele tabularis var. pulchra Turton, 1932
  • Trochus impervius Menke, 1843
  • Trochus indecorus Philippi, 1844
  • Trochus variegatus Anton, 1839 (original description)

Description

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The size of the shell varies between 15 mm and 20 mm.

Distribution

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This marine species occurs off the southern coast of South Africa, from Namibia to North Transkei.

References

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  • 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): 24
  • Branch, G.M. et al. (2002). Two Oceans. 5th impression. David Philip, Cate Town & Johannesburg.
  • Donald K.M., Kennedy M. & Spencer H.G. (2005) The phylogeny and taxonomy of austral monodontine topshells (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Trochidae), inferred from DNA sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 37: 474–483.
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  • "Oxystele variegata". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  • Contributions to the knowledge of South African marine Mollusca; Annals of The South African Museum vol. 47; 1963