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RINGICULIDAE


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Ringicula semisculpta Hedley, 1911

Description: Shell squat, moderately solid, weakly sculptured with numerous spiral cords, spire elevated. Teleoconch of 4 regularly convex whorls, usually with 5 or 6 fine spiral grooves at base, occasionally more. Aperture moderately wide; outer lip slightly thickened internally, with strong varix externally; inner lip with callus on parietal wall but without ridge or tooth; columella with 2 strong plaits. Colour white.

Size: Up to 6 mm in length.

Distribution: Known from Broken Bay, NSW, southwards and around southern Australia to central SA.

Habitat: Subtidal, in deep to very deep water (119-1200 m). Moderately common.

Comparison: This is sufficiently different to the forms of R. doliaris that it has been accepted as a separate species. The main difference is its deep-water habitat, but in shell form it lacks strong spiral sculpture and the ridge or tooth on the parietal wall.

Figs. 1, 2: Forty miles (64 km) south of Cape Wiles, SA, in 100 fathoms (183 m). C.107430 HOLOTYPE.

 

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