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

Alvania nicolauensis
Shell of Alvania nicolauensis (specimen at Natural History Museum, Rotterdam)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Family: Rissoidae
Genus: Alvania
Species:
A. nicolauensis
Binomial name
Alvania nicolauensis
Moolenbeek & Rolán, 1988

The species is endemic to the Cape Verde Archipelago. The species name refers to the island of São Nicolau, but it has been found near the coasts of other Cape Verde islands as well.[2]

Description

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Alvania nicolauensis is a grazer who feeds on detritus on the ocean floor.[3] Specimens are usually brown or white in color. The shell has four large whorls taking up most of its size. It has a small parietal wall. There is a crossed pattern of indentations across the shell, giving it a textured look.[4] The shell length can be up to 2.7mm.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Alvania nicolauensis Moolenbeek & Rolán, 1988. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 3 December 2018.
  2. ^ Moolenbeek R.G. & Rolán E. (1988). "New species of Rissoidae from the Cape Verde Islands (Mollusca: Gastropoda) part 1". Bulletin Zoölogisch Museum. 11 (14): 121–126.
  3. ^ Moolenbeek & Rolán. "Alvania nicolauensis Moolenbeek & Rolán, 1988". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Alvania nicolauensis Moolenbeek & Rolán,1988". Natural History Museum Pictures. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Alvania nicolauensis". Gastropods. Retrieved 30 June 2021.

Further reading

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  • Rolán, E., and Groh, K. (2005). Malacological Fauna from the Cape Verde Archipelago: Polyplacophora and Gastropoda. Hackenheim, Germany: ConchBooks.