Burnupena pubescens
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Caenogastropoda
clade Hypsogastropoda
clade Neogastropoda
Superfamily:
Buccinoidea
Family:
Buccinidae
Subfamily:
Buccininae
Genus:
Burnupena
Species:
B. pubescens
Binomial name
Burnupena pubescens
(Küster, 1858)
Synonyms[1]
  • Buccinum pubescens Küster, 1858
  • Buccinum tigrinum Kiener, 1834 (non Gmelin, 1791)
  • Burnupena tigrina (Kiener, 1834)
  • Cominella translucida Turton, 1932

Burnupena pubescens is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Buccinidae, the true whelks.[1]

Description

The size of an adult shell varies between 40 mm and 50 mm. Very similar to B. papyracea. Also often covered with the encrusting bryozoan Alcyonidium nodosum and differs mainly in being smaller and having fine longitudinal ridges which cross the spirals to produce a slightly checkered effect, generally not visible under the bryozoan.[2]

The ovate shell is elongated and subturreted. It is generally of a clear fawn color, marked with numerous spots of a deep chestnut or reddish color, oblong or quadrangular, alternating with other similar spots of a dull white. The first, oftentimes, form longitudinal bands. The pointed spire is conical and, formed of six slightly convex whorls, the lowest of which is as large as all the others. They are flattened and angular at the upper part, crowned upon the angle by a subgranulated margin. The suture is accompanied at the upper part of each whorl, by a small, slightly convex and undulating margin. Upon the body whorl are seen nine rounded, transverse, very angular folds. The other whorls are also ornamented with three folds. The spaces between them bear fine transverse striae. The aperture is white, ovate and elongated. The thick columella is rounded, white and almost straight. The right edge is thin, and slightly sharp.[3]

Distribution

This marine species is found in South African waters off Namibia and KwaZuluNatal.

References

  1. 1 2 Burnupena pubescens (Küster, 1858). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 20 June 2011.
  2. ↑ Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. (2010). Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa Struik Nature, Cape Town. ISBN 978 1 77007 772 0
  3. ↑ Kiener (1837). General species and iconography of recent shells : comprising the Massena Museum, the collection of Lamarck, the collection of the Museum of Natural History, and the recent discoveries of travellers Pub. W.D. Ticknor, Boston. Translated from French by David Humphreys Storer. Described as Buccinum tigrinum, p. 27–28.
  • Kilburn R.N. (1972). Taxonomic notes on South African marine Mollusca, with the description of new species and subspecies of Conus, Nassarius, Vexillum and Demoulia. Annals of the Natal Museum 21(2):391–437
  • Branch, G.M. et al. (2002). Two Oceans. 5th impression. David Philip, Cate Town & Johannesburg
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