Agathotoma alcippe

Agathotoma alcippe is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Mangeliidae.^[1]

Agathotoma alcippe
Original image of a shell of Agathotoma alcippe
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Conoidea
Family:	Mangeliidae
Genus:	Agathotoma
Species:	A. alcippe
Binomial name
Agathotoma alcippe (Dall W.H., 1918)
Synonyms[1]
Agathotoma euryclea Dall, W.H., 1919 Agathotoma pyrrhula Dall, W.H., 1919 Cytharella (Agathotoma) euryclea Dall, W.H., 1919 Mangilia parilis Smith, E.A., 1888 Pleurotoma alcippe Dall, 1918 Turris euryclea W.H. Dall, 1919

Description

The length of the shell varies between 5 mm and 11 mm.

(Original description) The minute shell, which is either whitish or pale brownish, is subcylindrical and turreted in shape. The protoconch features a projecting, minute subglobular apex and comprises about 1½ smooth whorls. This is followed in the teleoconch by approximately 4½ sculptured whorls.

The spiral sculpture consists of minute, close-set threads that uniformly cover the entire surface. The suture is distinct and appressed, with the whorls being shouldered immediately in front of it.

The axial sculpture is characterized by prominent, slightly protractively oblique ribs (seven or eight on the body whorl), with wider interspaces. These ribs extend over the entire whorl and are prominent at the shoulder, but they are not continuous over the spire.

The aperture is narrow, and the outer lip is varicose, thick, and striated in front while being smooth inside. The anal sulcus is conspicuous but not deep. The inner lip is smooth, and the siphonal canal is barely differentiated. ^[2]

Distribution

This marine species occurs off the Sea of Cortez, Western Mexico, and off Panama and the Galápagos Islands. ^[3]