Recluzia turrita (Philippi, 1849b)
[dubious species, probably a Janthinid]
Overview
This is a large, shelled, pelagic snail. It lives in the pleuston and has no swimming fins. The dextral shell is highly coiled. The colour is pale reddish on the underside and dark blue on the upperside. The aperture is round, the columella is straight. It is a carnivorous species predating on relatively large floating animals.
Taxonomic Description
The original description only describes the colour- dark blue on the upperside and pale reddish anteriorly with a white underside. This points to a relation with Janthina.
Juveniles
The juveniles have a dextrally coiled shell. A special description is not available.
Types
Janthina turrita v. d. Busch. Philippi, 1849: 15.
Type is not indicated.
Type locality unknown.
Original description
J. testa fusiformi-turrita, fuscescente, laevissima; anfractibus teretibus, suture profundissima divisis; apertura aemiorbiculari, spira breviore. Alt 14 1/2'''; lat. 10'''; alt. apert. 8'''.
Patria.
Forma singulari nec non labro rectilineo e plerisque recedit, sed habitus, testa tenuis, apertura, labium, hanc speciem ad Janthinas trahunt. Color in anfractibis superioribus caerulescens, in sequentibus pallide rufus, in ultimo et in faucibus saturatius rufo-ferrugineus; basis intus alba.