Africofusus ocelliferus
Africofusus ocelliferus, common name the long-siphoned whelk, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Fasciolariidae, the spindle snails, the tulip snails and their allies.
Spelling
The specific name was originally spelled "ocelliferus"; although this is not a correct latinization it is not liable to a justified emendation. The spelling ocellifer is therefore an unjustified emendation, which may be traced to Kaicher, 1976Description
The length of the shell attains 160 mm.The shell varies from narrowly to broadly spindle-shaped, with the spire comprising half to three-quarters of the total aperture length. The siphonal canal is long and slender, sometimes accounting for up to one-third of the total shell length, and is often slightly curved. The sculpture consists of coarse, flattened spiral ridges, though the prominence of these ridges varies widely between specimens. Some individuals display a distinct shoulder adorned with rounded nodules. A deep false umbilicus is often present beside the siphonal base in mature specimens. The inner lip lacks columellar pleats, and the interior of the outer lip is smooth.
The shell is whitish, with spiral ridges often spotted or mottled with brown. When present, the shoulder typically features darker brown spots, especially on the nodules. The periostracum is a velvety, horn-brown layer that often flakes off. The animal is orange-red.