Clanculus ringens


Clanculus ringens, common name the ringent clanculus, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Trochidae, the top snails.

Description

The size of the shell varies between 8 mm and 13 mm. The perforate shell has a conical shape and contains 7 whorls. The first whorl is smooth, yellowish; the following whorls are planulate, separated by canalicidate sutures. They are maculate with chestnut and white. They are spirally cingulate above with 4 elegantly granulate ridges, the upper and lower the larger. The body whorl is acutely carinated. The base of the shell is slightly convex, ornamented with 8 to 9 granose cinguli. The oblique aperture is rhomboidal and narrow. The basal margin is sulcate-denticulate. The oblique columella is strong and terminates below in a large tooth, ringent above. The columella is callous, ringent, and plicate.

Distribution

This marine species is endemic to Australia and occurs off South Australia and Western Australia.