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Epitoniidae Berry, 1910 (1812)

Acirsa antarctica

(E. A. Smith, 1907)

Description:

Dimensions range from 8.6 mm - 11 mm high and 3.3 mm - 3.5 mm wide.
Width to height ratio: 0.38:1 ~ 0.32:1

Shell: elongate; small. Exterior colour dirty whitish. About 8 whorls, very convex with fine growth lines. Spire blunt, globose. Imperforate. Costae are low. There is a single varix on each whorl. The varix is occasional. Intercostal spaces show a minutely cancellated appearance from irregular, interrupted spiral and axial lines. Base with basal ridge visible. Aperture roundly ovate; peristome thickened, slightly expanded. Operculum yellowish, horny.


Distribution:

Antartica; Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, Southern Indian Ocean [Aldea & Troncoso, 2008:66]


Habitat:

8m-1847 m [Aldea & Troncoso, 2008:66]


Etymology:

named for the location of first recorded specimen


Type Material:

Type: BMNH 1905.7.10.70-2 for Acirsa antarctica (E. A. Smith, 1907). [Kaicher, S.D., 1980]


SpeciesImage

Smith, E.A. (1907). Plate I. Fig. 10.

10 shell
10a operculum
10b shell sculpture

Distribution

as listed in source literature

Smith, E.A. (1907).
Shown in text as Scala antarctica E. A. Smith, 1907 ·
Species Image
Plate I. Fig. 10.
10 shell
10a operculum
10b shell sculpture
Species Image
pp: 8.
Powell, A. W. B (1951).
Species Image
pp: 114.
Kaicher, S.D. (1980).
Species Image
Card #: EP1-2291.
BMHM type collection: 1905.7.10.70-2
Aldea, C. & Troncoso, J. (2008).
Species Image
pp: 69. Fig. 32.
32. Acirsa antarctica, 8.6 x 3.3 mm, MB32
Species Image
pp: 66.
Kantor, KY & Pastorino, G. (2023).
Species Image
Plate USNM 894586.
Mcmurdo Sound
Ross Island
NW Of Cape Armitage
Species Image
Species Image

Synonymy:

Scala antarctica E. A. Smith, 1907 · [in Smith, E.A., 1907].


Source Literature:

Aldea, C. & Troncoso, J. (2008). Systematics and distribution of shelled molluscs (Gastropoda, Bivalvia and Scaphopoda) from the South Shetland Islands to the Bellingshausen Sea, West Antarctica. Iberus. 26
Kaicher, S.D. (1980). Epitoniidae I [Pack 23]. S. D. Kaicher, St. Petersburg, Florida. http://www.femorale.com/kaicher/species.asp?f=Epitoniidae&c=125 [Accessed 8 May 2023]
Kantor, K.Y & Pastorino, G. (2023). Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. https://collections.nmnh.si.edu/search/iz/?ark=ark:/65665/395a3e55f928c4e4a8831f4a63d56efac. https://collections.nmnh.si.edu/search/iz/?ark=ark:/65665/395a3e55f928c4e4a8831f4a63d56efac [Accessed 11 May 2023]
Powell, A. W. B (1951). Antarctic and Subantarctic Mollusca. Pelecypoda and Gastropoda. Discovery Reports. 26. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.16335 [Accessed 16 July 2025]
Powell, A.W.B (1960). Antarctic and Subantarctic Mollusca. Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum. 5(3/4). Auckland War Memorial Museum. https://www.jstor.org/stable/42906097 [Accessed 1 November 2025]
Smith, E.A. (1907). Mollusca and Brachiopoda in National Antarctic Expedition, "Discovery". Natural History. 2. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/6255628 [Accessed 16 July 2025]
Weil, A., Brown, L. & Neville, B. (1999). The Wentletrap Book. Evolver
WoRMS Editorial Board (2025). World Register of Marine Species. https://www.marinespecies.org [Accessed 8 November 2025]

WoRMS direct page link: Open WoRMS record