Eucyclotoma albomacula is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Raphitomidae. It was first described by E. Alison Kay in 1979 and is distinguished by a single spiral keel on each whorl with axial white stripes; the species name (albomacula) is derived from the Latin albo (white) and macula (speck or spot).
Description The shell varies greatly in length, with specimens ranging in size from 2mm to 8mm (0.08-0.31inches). The holotype has a diameter of 2mm (0.08inches) and a length of about 7.75mm (0.3inches). The shell is tall-spired, thin, with a sloping spiral keel on each whorl. The shell is described as glossy, chestnut brown with three axial streaks of white colour. Its spire consists of a protoconch of two and a half whorls, a teleoconch of c. nine whorls, and an indistinct suture marked by a spiral head and a linear spiral of white and brown. It has a widely oval aperture about one-fifth the total length of the shell, a thin outer lip with protrusions of the spiral keels.
Distribution Eucyclotoma albomacula are rare, found at mesophotic depths between 59m to 195m (194-640ft). They are thought to be endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The holotype was collected at a depth of 60m (197ft), in Kepuhi Point, O'ahu. Specimens have been collected from Lāna'i, Ni'ihau, French Frigate Shoals, Laysan, Salmon Bank, Pearl and Hermes Atoll, Midway Atoll, and Kure Atoll. +Specimens at Bernice P. Bishop MuseumShell length (mm)Site collectedDepth range1(holotype specimen)7.75Kepuhi Point, O’ahi60m3specimens3.9-6.0Lāna‘i75m-91m 1specimen4.6Ni‘ihau59m1specimen7.0French Frigate Shoals85m1specimen2.5Laysan64m2specimens, 1partial shell 2.7-3.5Salmon Bank82m (partial shell found at 91m)12specimens, 1partial shell2.2-3.0Pearl and Hermes Atoll55m-98m (partial shell found at 85m)7specimens, 1partial shell2.2-5.7Midway Atoll59m-65m (partial shell found at 84m)4specimens2.0-6.8Kure Atoll88m-94m This table does not represent every specimen of Eucyclotoma albomacula collected, merely specimens in possession of the Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii.
See also
Eucyclotoma Raphitomidae Tritonoturris
References
Severns, M. (2011). Shells of the Hawaiian Islands - The Sea Shells. Conchbooks, Hackenheim. 564 pp. Liu J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.)(2008). Checklist of marine biota of China seas. China Science Press. 1267 pp
External links
Kay, E. A. (1979). Hawaiian marine shells. Reef and shore fauna of Hawaii. Section 4: Mollusca. Bernice P. Bishop Museum Special Publications. 64xviii + 1-653 Moretzsohn, Fabio, and E. Alison Kay. "HAWAIIAN MARINE MOLLUSCS." (1995)