Clanculus pharaonius
Type species of Clanculus, with strawberry-red shell and granulate surface.
Clanculus pharaonius, called the strawberry topshell, is a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Trochidae. It serves as the type species for the genus *Clanculus*.
The shell is very strong and solid, ranging from 13 to 25 mm in size. It has a depressed conical shape with a rounded edge and a deep umbilicus at the axis. The surface is densely granulated. The overall color of the whorls and spire is dark strawberry or coral red. The spire is conical with barely convex outlines. There are about six whorls, slightly convex and separated by well-marked sutures. The body whorl is large and bends forward. It bears 18 or 19 crowded, finely beaded ridges; the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth, and two on the base are made up of alternating black and white granules. Granulation is finer on the base, which is convex and slightly indented toward the center. The aperture is oblique and somewhat quadrangular. The peristome has a marginal row of black and white dots. The outer lip is folded inside, with a short fold-like tubercle above. The basal lip, outer edge of the umbilicus, and parietal wall have wrinkle-like folds. The columella is very oblique, ending below in a square projection, twisted above, and attached to the side of the umbilicus. The umbilicus is white and smooth inside, with a strongly ribbed margin.
This species is widely found in the shallow subtidal zone across the tropical Indo-Pacific, from the Hawaiian Islands to the Red Sea, the Gulf of Oman, and Madagascar.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Clanculus pharaonius
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The shell of Clanculus pharaonius is very strong and solid, with a depressed conoidal shape, rounded periphery, and a profoundly umbilicate axis. It is densely granulate, and the overall coloration of the whorls and spire is dark strawberry red or coral red. The spire is conoidal with scarcely convex outlines, and the about six whorls are somewhat convex, separated by well impressed sutures. The body whorl is large and deflected anteriorly, bearing 18 or 19 crowded, closely granose cinguli, of which the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and two upon the base are composed of alternate black and white granules. The base is convex, a trifle indented toward the center, with finer granulation. The oblique aperture is subquadrangonal, and the peristome has a marginal row of black and white dots. The outer lip is plicate within, with a short pliciform tubercle above. The basal lip, outer margin of the umbilicus, and parietal wall are provided with wrinkle-like plicae. The columella is very oblique, terminating below in a square prominence, contorted above, and inserted on the side of the umbilicus. The umbilicus is white and smooth within the strongly radiately plicate marginal rib.
Reader's Guide
Clanculus pharaonius is widely distributed in the shallow subtidal zone throughout the tropics of the Indo-Pacific region, from the Hawaiian Islands to the Red Sea, the Gulf of Oman, and Madagascar. As the type species of the genus Clanculus, it holds taxonomic significance for the family Trochidae. The shell's distinctive strawberry-red coloration and dense granulation, along with the pattern of alternate black and white granules on specific cinguli, make it a recognizable species. Its strong, solid shell with a profoundly umbilicate axis and subquadrangonal aperture with plicate lips are characteristic features. The species is documented in references including Dautzenberg (1923) for Madagascar, Bosch & Bosch (1982) for Oman, and Sharabati (1984) for the Red Sea, indicating its broad geographic coverage in malacological literature.
Did You Know?
- The shell size varies between 13 mm and 25 mm.
- The body whorl bears 18 or 19 crowded, closely granose cinguli.
- The columella terminates below in a square prominence.
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