Steromphala nivosa, common name the Maltese top shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Trochidae, the top snails.[1]

Quick Facts Scientific classification, Binomial name ...
Steromphala nivosa
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Steromphala nivosa specimens at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Vetigastropoda
Order: Trochida
Superfamily: Trochoidea
Family: Trochidae
Subfamily: Cantharidinae
Genus: Steromphala
Species:
S. nivosa
Binomial name
Steromphala nivosa
(A. Adams, 1851)
Synonyms
  • Gibbula altimirai Nordsieck 1982
  • Gibbula nivosa A. Adams, 1853
  • Gibbula rotella Monterosato 1888
  • Trochus pictus Philippi 1846
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Description

The size of the shell varies between 6 mm and 9 mm. The umbilicate shell has an orbiculate-conoidal shape. It is gray with almost round spots. It is sulcate in a crosswise direction and longitudinally substriate. The aperture is almost round. The columella is flexuous. The base of the shell is rounded.[2]

Distribution

This species occurs in the Mediterranean Sea off Malta.

References

Further reading

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