Aulacofusus brevicauda


Aulacofusus brevicauda, common name the thick-ribbed whelk, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Buccinidae, the true whelks.
;Subspecies:
  • Aulacofusus brevicauda fortilirata : synonym of Aulacofusus periscelidus
  • Aulacofusus brevicauda kurilensis A. N. Golikov & Gulbin, 1977

    Description

The length of the shell attains 60 mm, its diameter 25 mm.
The shell is elongated and ovato-fusiform in shape. It possesses a reddish-horn coloration and an externally chalky texture, marked by regular longitudinal striations. The surface is encircled by a series of ribs and grooves of subequal width.
The spire consists of approximately 8 whorls, though the specimen specifically exhibits 7 1/2 rounded whorls that are distinctly tabulate at their upper margins. The body whorl is well-proportioned, measuring one-third of the total shell length. The aperture is pyriform and terminates in a moderate rostrum. The outer lip is gracefully arched and features small submarginal denticles on the interior. This inner surface is further adorned with reddish streaks that correspond to the external ribs of the shell.

Distribution

This species occurs in Arctic waters.