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Circulus lodderae (Petterd, 1884)

Description: Shell minute, low spired. Early whorls rounded and smooth, developing two spiral keels. Last whorl rounded, with five or six spiral keels, sometimes with several finer ribs between; axial sculpture usually absent, occasionally as fine threads between suture and upper spiral. Aperture circular, with varix externally. Umbilicus widely open, with one or several spiral threads descending into it. Colourless translucent when fresh, becoming opaque white with age.

Size: Up to 2.0 mm wide, 1.0 mm high.

Distribution: Endemic to Australia: known from Caloundra, Queensland, southwards and around southern Australia to central South Australia, including Tasmania.

Habitat: Unknown. All specimens available are from beach washup, from estuarine and open coast beaches. Common.

Comparison: Compared with Pseudoliotia speciosa this species is smaller and lacks the strong axial sculpture of that species. It is similar in shape and size to two species of the Skeneidae, Lodderina minima and Microcarina surgerea, but differs in sculpture.

Fig. 1, 2, 3: Callala Bay, in Jervis Bay, NSW (C.269910)

 

Copyright Des Beechey 2014