Recluzia palmeri (Dall, 1871)
[very dubious species]
Overview
This is a large, shelled pelagic snail, 3.4 cm in height. It lives in the pleuston and has no swimming fins. The dextral shell is highly coiled and brown. The aperture is round, the columella is straight. It is a carnivorous species predating on relatively large floating animals. It lives in the Caribbean Sea.
Taxonomic description
The shell is relatively thick, solid and smooth with a deep suture. There are 4 inflated whorls. The apex is decollated. The thin columella is slightly inflexed, with a small but clear fold as in Recluzia rollandiana. The aperture is rounded oval, less than half the shell length. The outer aperture lip is rounded. The periostracum is velvety olive-tan. The shell is chestnut-brown.
Shell height to 34.5 mm, diameter to 22.3 mm; floats to 95 mm long.
Juveniles
The juveniles have a dextrally coiled shell. A special description is not available.
Distribution
It is found in the warmer waters of the Indian Ocean, see the Recluzia palmeri map.
Types
Limacina palmeri Dall, 1871.
Type locality : "near the mouth of the Taqui river, near Guaymas, Mexico" about 120 km south of Guaymas.