Pulcharopa is a monotypic genus of pinwheel snails that is endemic to Australia's Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea. [1]

Pulcharopa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Stylommatophora
Superfamily: Punctoidea
Family: Charopidae
Subfamily: Charopinae
Genus: Pulcharopa
Iredale, 1944

The only species is P. plesa, also known as the fiery-bangled pinwheel snail.

Description

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The ear-shaped shell of mature snails is 1.9–2.5 mm in height, with a diameter of 3.5–4.2 mm, discoidal with a very low spire, widely spaced ribs and impressed sutures. It is orange-brown with zigzag, cream-coloured flammulations (flame-like markings). The umbilicus is moderately wide. The aperture is ovately lunate. The animal is unknown as it has never been collected alive.[2]

Distribution and habitat

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The snail is known only from the lowlands of the northern part of the island.[2]

References

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  1. ^ MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Pulcharopa Iredale, 1944. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=818509 on 2021-07-20
  2. ^ a b Hyman, Isabel; Köhler, Frank (2020). A Field Guide to the Land Snails of Lord Howe Island. Sydney: Australian Museum. ISBN 978-0-9750476-8-2.