Clanculus flosculus
A marine gastropod with a conoid, granose-lirate shell.
Clanculus flosculus is a marine gastropod mollusk belonging to the Trochidae family, commonly known as top snails. Its shell, which ranges from 9 to 15 mm, is thick, narrowly perforated, and conoid in shape, with a sharp apex and seven and a half whorls. The first whorl is rosy and smooth, while the rest are convex and separated by linear sutures. These whorls bear spiral ridges (lirae) with a granulated texture; on the penultimate whorl, six lirae are present, with the first, third, and fifth entirely reddish, and the second, fourth, and sixth composed of alternating white and black granules. The body whorl is rounded and has 15 to 16 lirae, slightly convex underneath. The concentric lirae are a uniform yellowish-brown, often in pairs, separated by single lirae that alternate white and black. The aperture is oblique and rhomboid, with a thickened, folded, and toothed lip above. The columella is oblique and ends in a large, folded, twisted, and truncated tooth. The narrow umbilicus is deep with a crenulated border, and the parietal callus is wrinkled. This species is found in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar, the Seychelles, Aldabra, Chagos, and off KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Clanculus flosculus
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The shell of Clanculus flosculus is thick, narrowly perforate, and conoid in shape with an acute apex and 7½ whorls. The first whorl is rosy and smooth, while the rest are convex and separated by linear sutures. These whorls are spirally lirate with granose lirae; on the penultimate whorl there are six lirae, of which the 1st, 3rd, and 5th are entirely reddish, and the 2nd, 4th, and 6th are composed of alternating white and black granules. The body whorl is globose, bearing 15 or 16 lirae, somewhat convex beneath, with concentric lirae that are uniform yellowish-brown, often in pairs, separated by single alternately white and black articulated lirae.
The oblique aperture is rhomboid, with a thickened lip that is plicate and dentate above. The columella is oblique, terminating in a large, plicate, contorted, truncate tooth. The narrow umbilicus is profound with a crenulated border, and the parietal callus is wrinkled. This species occurs in the Indian Ocean off Madagascar, the Seychelles, Aldabra and Chagos, and off KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Reader's Guide
Clanculus flosculus is documented in the revision of Trochinae by Herbert G.G. (1993), published in the Annals of the Natal Museum. The species is part of the tribe Trochini within the family Trochidae. Its shell characteristics, such as the granose lirae and the alternating color pattern of white, black, and reddish granules, are key features used in its identification. The distribution spans several Indian Ocean localities, including Madagascar, the Seychelles, Aldabra, Chagos, and the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The species is known from museum collections and taxonomic studies, with external references such as Gastropods.com providing additional access to images and data. Its significance lies in its contribution to the understanding of trochid diversity in the western Indian Ocean region.
Did You Know?
- The shell of Clanculus flosculus has 7½ whorls, with the first whorl being rosy and smooth.
- On the penultimate whorl, the 1st, 3rd, and 5th lirae are entirely reddish, while the 2nd, 4th, and 6th consist of alternating white and black granules.
- The body whorl bears 15 or 16 lirae, with concentric lirae that are uniform yellowish-brown, often in pairs.
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