Bullia callosa
Bullia callosa, common name the callused bullia, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Nassariidae, the Nassa mud snails or dog whelks.[1]
| Bullia callosa | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Apertural view of a shell of Bullia callosa (museum specimen at Naturalis Biodiversity Center) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Neogastropoda |
| Family: | Nassariidae |
| Genus: | Bullia |
| Species: | B. callosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Bullia callosa (W. Wood, 1828) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Description
The length of the shell varies between 18 mm and 50 mm.
The shell is elongated and cylindrical. The whole external surface is smooth, shining, of a coffee and milk color. The elongated spire is pointed. It is composed of six not convex whorls. Each whorl is covered between the sutures with a layer of matter, which assumes at the base a chestnut color. This layer is much thicker upon the body whorl, and is continued, enlarging itself, to the left lip, where it forms a large semicircular callosity, of a deep chestnut color, bordered with white. Each of the whorls of the spire is likewise separated from the others by a fawn-colored line, which is delineated a little below each suture. The aperture is ovate, of a pale fawn-color, dilated towards the middle, strongly emarginated at its base. The columella is arcuated, callous, fawn-colored and smooth. The callosity of the columella is oblique, thick, furrowed, much shorter than the outer lip. From its lower part, a stria stretches out, which is directed obliquely upon the back of the shell, to its termination at the anterior angle of the right lip, which is sharp.[2]
Distribution
This marine species occurs from Angola to Mozambique.
References
- Bullia callosa Gray. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species.
- Kiener (1840). 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; Boston :W.D. Ticknor,1837
- Marais J.P. & Kilburn R.N. (2010) Nassariidae. pp. 138–173, in: Marais A.P. & Seccombe A.D. (eds), Identification guide to the seashells of South Africa. Volume 1. Groenkloof: Centre for Molluscan Studies. 376 pp.
External links
- "Bullia (Bullia) callosa". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
