Alvania fischeri is a species of minute sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk or micromollusk in the family Rissoidae.[1]

Alvania fischeri
Apertural view of Alvania fischeri (specimen at the Natural History Museum, Rotterdam)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Superfamily: Rissooidea
Family: Rissoidae
Genus: Alvania
Species:
A. fischeri
Binomial name
Alvania fischeri
(Jeffreys, 1884)
Synonyms
  • Alvania (Alvania) fischeri (Jeffreys, 1884)
  • Rissoa fischeri Jeffreys, 1884

Description

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The length of the shell varies between 2 mm and 3 mm.

(Original description) The oval shell is rather solid, opaque and lustreless. The colour of the shell is pale yellowish or dirty white.

The sculpture consists of 16-18 strong longitudinal ribs on the body whorl, 14-16 on the penultimate whorl, 10-12 on the next, and merely traces or none at all on the second whorl, the top whorl or apex being smooth. These ribs are crossed by equally strong spiral ribs or ridges, of which there are 6-8 on the body whorl, 4 on the penultimate, and 3 on the next whorl, the succeeding or second whorl being marked with a few spiral striae. The points of intersection are noduled or prickly, but only as to the four upper spiral ridges on the body whorl in consequence of the longitudinal ribs not extending to the lower or basal spiral ridges. The interstices are oblong.

The spire is somewhat tapering. It contains 5 whorls, moderately convex, rapidly increasing in size, the last occupying half the spire. The apex is prominent but twisted. The suture is deep and angulated. The aperture is nearly round. The outer lip is thin and smooth inside. The inner lip is reflected on the columella, which is not umbilicated nor perforated. [2]

Distribution

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This species occurs in the Western Mediterranean Sea, off Tunisia and Andalusia, Spain.

References

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  1. ^ Alvania fischeri (Jeffreys, 1884). Gofas, S. (2009). Alvania fischeri (Jeffreys, 1884). In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through the World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=141187 on 9 August 2010 .
  2. ^ Jeffreys, J. G. (1884). On the Mollusca procured during the 'Lightning' and 'Porcupine' expeditions 1868-70 (Part VII). Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 1884: 111-149, pl. 9-10
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  • Gofas, S.; Le Renard, J.; Bouchet, P. (2001). Mollusca, in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels, 50: pp. 180–213
  • "Alvania (Alvania) fischeri". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  • Malacopics Photogallery: image