Epitonium heloris
(Iredale, 1936)
Description:
Dimensions range from 9.3 mm - 14 mm high and 4.8 mm - 7 mm wide.
Width to height ratio: 0.52:1 ~ 0.5:1
Shell: broadly elongate; thin; small. Exterior colour white. About 9 whorls, well rounded; strongly sculptured; protoconch with 1.5-2 whorls polished smooth, white; teleoconch with ~7 whorls rounded, tightly coiled. Suture deep. Imperforate: where the costae would normally converge and fuse, a single strong costa is formed. Approximately 14 - 15 costae on the body whorl. Costae are thin, flattened between the suture and peak creating tabulate appearance. Costae flatten below the suture, forming a pseudo-shoulder, which broadens into an erect spine; recurved. Intercostal spaces crossed by fine, closely packed spiral striae crossed by growth lines forming very fine cancellated sculpture. Aperture ovate, slightly detached from the last whorl, lip lies closely against surface of the whorl, framed by a strong varix; peristome complete.
Distribution:
off Simoda Izu Peninsula, Japan [Nakayama, 2003:55]; Sydney, Australia [Iredale, 1936:296]
Habitat:
60m [Nakayama, 2003: 55]
Etymology:
unsure, but may be related to helios [greek] = the sun in reference to the star burst shape of the shell
Type Material:
Holotype: Australian Museum: C.60642 for Epitonium heloris (Iredale, 1936) - Type Locality: Australia, New South Wales, Sydney Harbour (33° 51' 00' S, 151° 14' 00' E) 1928 - 1929, Comtesse, Captain D L(Collector), Dredged. [Australian Museum, 2026]
Iredale, T. (1936). Plate xxii. Fig. 3.
Distribution
as listed in source literature
No species images found.