“COLLONIA CUNNINGHAMI, sp. n. (Plate IV. figs. 10, 10 a.)
Shell small, subglobose, perforate in the young state, when adult imperforate, of a rose-madder colour. Whorls 4½; apical one whitish, the rest convex and finely spirally striated, also marked with, faint oblique lines of growth. Suture rather deep. Last whorl obliquely descending near the lip, somewhat flattened beneath near the centre. Aperture obliquely subcircular, iridescent within. Columella pearly, spread over the umbilicus. Labrum with a narrow pinkish margin within. Height 4½ millims., greatest diam. 5, smallest diam. 4 ⅓.
Operculum circular, consisting of six whorls, which are most easily seen on the inner suface. The outside is somewhat thickened by a shelly deposit.
Hab. Stations 5 and 2, and Wolsey anchorage, 17 fathoms, mud and gravel bottom.
Named after Dr. R. O. Cunningham, whose labours on the Patagonian fauna are well known and highly appreciated.”
(Smith, 1881: 33)
Homalopoma cunninghami is a species of small sea snail with calcareous opercula, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Colloniidae.[2]
The height of the shell varies between 4 mm and 5.5 mm. The small, rose-madder shell has a subglobose shape. It is, perforate in the young state, but when adult imperforate, It contains 42 whorls, the apical one whitish, the rest convex, and finely spirally striated. The shell is also marked with faint oblique lines of growth. The suture is rather deep. The body whorl descends obliquely near the lip. It is somewhat flattened beneath near the center. The aperture is obliquely subcircular and iridescent within. The pearly columella is spread over the umbilicus. The labrum has a narrow pinkish margin within.[3]
This marine species is found at depths between 13 m and 665 m off Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands.
Homalopoma cunninghami is a species of small sea snail with calcareous opercula, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Colloniidae.
