Calliostoma palmeri
Encyclopedia
Calliostoma palmeri is a species
of sea snail
, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family
Calliostomatidae
.
, but there are a few recognizable differences. The shell reaches a larger size and appears more squat than in C. bonita, because it has a lower spire. The shell appears to be thin and is relatively lightweight for its size. Sculpturally the carinations along the base and periphery are not as strong as in C. bonita and the peripheral carination is located higher on the whorl giving the shell a very distinct profile. The darker brown color markings on the tan shell are not as bold or distinct as in C. bonita. Average size: Height 24 mm, diameter 28 mm. Despite the range overlap there is no known intergradation between Calliostoma palmeri and C. bonita and the two species are considered to be distinct but closely related, making them sibling species
.
to the subtidal zone to depths of 45 m.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of sea snail
Sea snail
Sea snail is a common name for those snails that normally live in saltwater, marine gastropod molluscs....
, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Calliostomatidae
Calliostomatidae
Calliostomatidae is a family of sea snails within the superfamily Trochoidea and the clade Vetigastropoda.- Description :The Calliostomatidae are unusually diverse. They are characterized by a stepped spire and a pointy aperture. They may possess or lack an umbilicus. The columella is sometimes...
.
Description
The shell of this species is very similar to that of Calliostoma bonitaCalliostoma bonita
Calliostoma bonita is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calliostomatidae.-Description:The shell has a concave shoulder with a strong carination. Overall the shell is light brown to tan in color, with a bright purple channel at the edge of the inner lip. The sculpture...
, but there are a few recognizable differences. The shell reaches a larger size and appears more squat than in C. bonita, because it has a lower spire. The shell appears to be thin and is relatively lightweight for its size. Sculpturally the carinations along the base and periphery are not as strong as in C. bonita and the peripheral carination is located higher on the whorl giving the shell a very distinct profile. The darker brown color markings on the tan shell are not as bold or distinct as in C. bonita. Average size: Height 24 mm, diameter 28 mm. Despite the range overlap there is no known intergradation between Calliostoma palmeri and C. bonita and the two species are considered to be distinct but closely related, making them sibling species
Sibling species
Sibling species are species that are very similar in appearance, in behavior and in other characteristics, but they are reproductively isolated. In other words, sibling species are pairs or groups of genetically closely related species which are often morphologically indistinguishable, but are...
.
Distribution
This is a Panamic Province species which is generally found from the northern end of the Gulf of California to Guaymas, Mexico, and is found in the low intertidal zoneIntertidal zone
The intertidal zone is the area that is above water at low tide and under water at high tide . This area can include many different types of habitats, with many types of animals like starfish, sea urchins, and some species of coral...
to the subtidal zone to depths of 45 m.