Alvania scabra (Philippi, 1844) |
Mediterranean. Often epiphytic, the species lives in intertidal to infralittoral algal environments. Grazer and detritus feeder. Original taxon: Rissoa scabra. Synonyms: mutabilis, oranica. The species is quite variable. Original description: « Testa oblonga, conica, acuta, costato-plicata, cingulis transversis distantibus sculpta; anfractibus planis, labro intus sulcato. […] Anfractus parum convexi, costulato plicati, plicis circa 14, transversimque cingulati […] Costae in ultimo anfractu evanescunt, apex laevissimus est. Apertura ovata, dimidiam spiram vix superat. Labrum extus incrassatum, intus sulcatum est. Color albus, maculis magnis rufis ornatus. » – R. A. Philippi: Enumeratio molluscorum Siciliae, Berlin 1836-1844, via BHL. High-spired specimen bearing a weak sculpture, collected in intertidal grit, Punta del Carnero, Algeciras, Andalucia, S. Spain. 2,3mm. |
Philippi: « Ubi cingula costas secant, tubercula mammillaria gignuntur. » Two specimens that match this description, displayed on WoRMS. Left: Arenal d’en Castell, Menorca, Islas Baleares. 2,1mm. Right: Xàbia, Comunidad Valenciana, Alicante, SE. Spain. 2,5mm. Pictures given by J. Trausel & F. Slieker, Natural History Museum Rotterdam – (CC BY-NC-SA). |
Elafonisi, SW. of Kissamos, W. Crete. 1,7mm. |
The variant “oranica”, smaller and less slender, from Georgioúpoli, east of Chaniá, NW. Crete. 1,8mm. |
An “oranica” from 26m deep, Punta de la Mona, east of La Herradura, Granada, Andalucia. 2,35mm. |
Very possible synonym: sculptilis Monterosato. 15-25m deep, Málaga, Andalucia. 2,1mm. |
28m deep, Otranto, Lecce, Puglia, SE. Italy. 1,7mm. Original pictures provided by F. Vitale (IT). – (CC BY-NC-SA) – |
Subfossil from La Mona. 2mm. |
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