Vexillum tusum, common name the bruised mitre, is a species of small sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Costellariidae, the ribbed miters.[1]

Vexillum tusum
Vexillum tusum (specimen at the Smithsonian Institution)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Turbinelloidea
Family: Costellariidae
Genus: Vexillum
Species:
V. tusum
Binomial name
Vexillum tusum
(Reeve, 1845)
Synonyms
  • Mitra alveolus Reeve, 1845
  • Mitra olgae Cate, J. 1963
  • Mitra tusa Reeve, 1845 (original combination)
  • Pusia olgae (L.A. Reeve, 1845)
  • Pusia tusum (Reeve, 1845)
  • Vexillum (Pusia) tusum (Reeve, 1845)
  • Vexillum alveolus (Reeve, 1845) ·

Description edit

The length of the shell attains 8 mm.

(Original description) The shell is ovate. The sutures of the spire are deeply impressed. The shell is longitudinally finely ribbed and transversely impressly striated. The upper part of the whorls is white, ornamented with large squarish brown spots. The lower part is entirely brown. The columella is four-plaited. [2]

Distribution edit

This marine species occurs off Mozambique, Guam and in French Polynesia,; also off the Coral Sea islands and Australia (Queensland)

References edit

  • Dautzenberg, P. & Bouge, L.J. 1923. Mitridés de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et de ses dépendances. Journal de Conchyliologie 67(2): 179-259
  • Cate, J. 1963. Revision of Dall's Hawaiian mitrids with descriptions of three new species (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Veliger 6(1): 23-43, pls 5-8
  • Cernohorsky, W.O. 1970. Systematics of the families Mitridae & Volutomitridae (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Bulletin of the Auckland Institute and Museum. Auckland, New Zealand 8: 1-190
  • Kay, E.A. 1979. Hawaiian marine shells. Reef and shore fauna of Hawaii. Section 4 : Mollusca. Honolulu, Hawaii : Bishop Museum Press Bernice P. Bishop Museum Special Publication Vol. 64(4) 653 pp.
  • Wilson, B. 1994. Australian marine shells. Prosobranch gastropods. Kallaroo, WA : Odyssey Publishing Vol. 2 370 pp.
  • Salisbury, R. 2000. Costellariidae of the World, Pt. 4. Of Sea and Shore 23(2): 70-84
  • Arnaud, J.P., Berthault, C., Jeanpierre, R., Martin, J.C. & Martin, P. 2002. Costellariidae et Mitridae de Nouvelle Calédonie. Xenophora. Association française de conchyliologie. Supplément 100: 52 pp.

External links edit