Cantharidus bisbalteatus
A glossy top snail with crimson belts and spiral dots.
Cantharidus bisbalteatus is a marine gastropod mollusk belonging to the Trochidae family, commonly known as top snails. Its glossy, imperforate or minutely rimate shell is elevated and conical, reaching 12.5 mm in height and 9 mm in diameter. The shell is encircled by a crimson or scarlet belt at the periphery and another along the lower suture, which may be continuous or broken by white streaks or spots; the area around the umbilical tract is roseate. Between these belts, the shell is somewhat olivaceous, with narrow spirals of alternating blue or white and red-brown dots, with two or three such spiral lines ascending the spire. The sculpture consists of slight growth lines and faint or obsolete fine spiral striae above, plus about six fine, spaced grooves around the umbilical region that become stronger toward the middle. The conical spire has an acute apex and about six and a half quite convex whorls separated by an impressed suture. The body whorl is subangular at the periphery and convex beneath. The oblique, rounded rhombic aperture is pearly and iridescent inside, with green or green and red reflections, and shows little sign of sulcation. The white columella is concave above and somewhat straightened in the middle, while the white columellar area is excavated. This species occurs off Japan.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Cantharidus bisbalteatus
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The shell of Cantharidus bisbalteatus is imperforate or minutely rimate, glossy, and has an elevated conical shape. It is encircled by a crimson or scarlet belt at the periphery and another bordering the suture below, which may be continuous or interrupted by white streaks or spots, with a roseate area around the umbilical tract. The intervening spaces are somewhat olivaceous, with a few narrow spirals of alternate blue or white and red-brown dots, with two or three of these spiral lines ascending the spire. Its sculpture consists of slight growth lines and fainter or wholly obsolete fine spiral striae above, and about six fine-spaced grooves around the umbilical region, stronger toward the middle. The conic spire has an acute apex, and the about 6½ whorls are quite convex, separated by an impressed suture. The body whorl is subangular at the periphery and convex beneath. The aperture is oblique, rounded rhombic, pearly and iridescent within, with green, or green and red reflections, scarcely showing any appearance of sulcation. The white columella is concave above, somewhat straightened in the middle, and the white columellar area is excavated.
Reader's Guide
This species is documented from Japanese waters, as noted in the distribution. Its shell morphology, including the height of 12.5 mm and diameter of 9 mm, along with the distinctive color bands and spiral dot patterns, provides key characteristics for identification within the Trochidae family. The description emphasizes the glossy, imperforate or minutely rimate shell with an elevated conical shape, and the presence of crimson or scarlet belts at the periphery and suture. The intricate pattern of blue, white, and red-brown dots on an olivaceous background, along with the pearly, iridescent aperture showing green or green and red reflections, are notable features. The sculpture includes slight growth lines and fine spiral striae, with grooves around the umbilical region. The species is referenced in external sources such as Gastropods.com, indicating its recognition in malacological literature. Its significance lies in its detailed shell morphology, which aids in taxonomic classification and understanding of marine snail diversity in the region.
Did You Know?
- The shell height of Cantharidus bisbalteatus attains 12.5 mm and its diameter 9 mm.
- It has about 6½ convex whorls separated by an impressed suture.
- This marine species occurs off Japan.
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