Charisma arenacea, common name the sandy charisma, is a species of extremely small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Trochidae, the top snails.[1]

Charisma arenacea
Original image of a shell of Charisma arenacea
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Vetigastropoda
Order: Trochida
Superfamily: Trochoidea
Family: Trochidae
Genus: Charisma
Species:
C. arenacea
Binomial name
Charisma arenacea
(Pritchard & Gatliff, 1902)
Synonyms

Leptothyra arenacea Pritchard & Gatliff, 1902

Description

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The height of the shell attains 2 mm, its diameter also 2 mm. The small, solid, umbilicate shell has a turbinate shape. Its color is sordid white. The four to five whorls are convex. The nuclear whorls are smooth, the rest are spirally ridged. These ridges are well-developed and number about 11 to 13 around the circular aperture on the body whorl. The space between the ridges is wider than the ridges. The umbilicus is deep and extends at the back of the columella to the anterior of the aperture. It is occasionally margined by a strong thread. The base of the shell is round. The lip is thick.[2]

Distribution

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This marine species is endemic to Australia and occurs off South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.

References

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  • Cotton, B.C. 1959. South Australian Mollusca. Archaeogastropoda. Handbook of the Flora and Fauna of South Australia. Adelaide : South Australian Government Printer 449 pp
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