Bolma


Bolma is a genus of medium to large sea snails with a calcareous operculum, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

Fossil records

The genus is known from the Eocene to the Recent periods. Fossils shells have been found in France, Greece, Japan, Morocco, Spain, Vanuatu, Guam, Cyprus, Greece, South Africa, Spain, Austria, Italy, Slovakia, New Zealand, Australia and Tonga. There are about 5 extinct species.

Description

The central teeth of the radula have no cusps. They have a narrow long basal plate, which is produced above the body of the tooth. The latter is wide, oval, and not reflected above. Its lower margin is not well-defined in my specimens which are, however, not stained. The laterals are of the usual form and bear cusps.
The imperforate shell has a turbinate shape. The spire is conic with whorls rounded at the periphery. The upper whorls are spiny. The base of the shell is convex. The operculum is nearly round with an excentric nucleus. The outside of the shell is polished, concave in the middle, with a convexity or rib upon the center of the spiral.

Distribution

This marine genus has a wide distribution. It occurs in the Red Sea, the Eastern Indian Ocean, the West Pacific, the South China Sea, the East China Sea, and off South Africa, Indo-China, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand and Australia.

Species

According to the World Register of Marine Species, the following species are included within the genus Bolma:
The following species are also included in the Indo-Pacific Molluscan Database
  • ''Bolma asteriola''