Cantharidoscops frigidus

Lore & Background

The shell of Cantharidoscops frigidus varies in length between 6 and 10 mm, with a height attaining 9 mm. It is small, conic, and polished, with a pale flesh color. The shell consists of six whorls, including a minute subglobular nucleus. The suture is distinct but not appressed, and the whorls are only moderately rounded. The axial sculpture shows faint incremental lines, while the spiral sculpture has a few very faint lines near the umbilical region. The base of the shell is rounded and imperforate. The operculum is pale brown with about eight turns. The aperture is rounded and slightly angular above, with a simple and sharp outer lip. The body shows a thin nacreous glaze, and the columellar lip is rounded and broader than the rest.

Reader's Guide

The polar margarite is a representative of the Trochidae family in cold marine environments. Its distribution spans the Pacific near the Arctic Ocean, off northern Japan, and from Alaska's Admiralty Islands to Nunivak Island in the Bering Sea. The species is found in both brackish and marine habitats, indicating adaptability to varying salinities. The shell's polished, conic form and pale flesh color are characteristic features, along with the distinct suture and faint sculptural lines. The operculum, with about eight turns, and the nacreous glaze on the body are additional identifying traits. As a marine gastropod, it contributes to the biodiversity of Arctic and subarctic benthic communities. The species is documented in resources such as the World Register of Marine Species and the Encyclopedia of Life, reflecting its recognized status in malacological studies.

Did You Know?

• The shell length of Cantharidoscops frigidus varies between 6 and 10 mm.
• This species occurs in the Pacific near the Arctic Ocean and off northern Japan.