| Giant sundial | |
|---|---|
| |
| Shell of Architectonica maxima from Japan at the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| (unranked): | |
| Superfamily: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | A. maxima
|
| Binomial name | |
| Architectonica maxima (
Philippi, 1849)
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Architectonica maxima, common name giant sundial, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Architectonicidae, which are known as the staircase shells or sundials. [1]
Description
Architectonica maxima has a shell that reaches 19 – 82 mm [2] and it is the largest member of the sundial family. This shell is low-spired and quite flattened, with a beaded surface. The shoulder slope is divided into two ribs by a spiral groove. [3] The basic color is cream, with brown spots.
Distribution
This species can be found in the Indo-Pacific, from East Africa and the Persian Gulf to western Pacific, Japan, eastern Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Hawaii. [2] [4] [5] [3]
Habitat
Giant sundial is a carnivore deeper water sea snail living on sandy patches and muddy sublittoral bottoms, [3] close to soft corals, at a depth of 10 – 280 m. [5]
References
- ^ a b WoRMS
- ^ a b "Architectonica (Maxima-group) maxima". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
- ^ a b c Ftp.fao[ permanent dead link]
- ^ Discover Life
- ^ a b Sealifebase
 | This Heterobranchia-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |