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Additional Photos
underside
pale
shell
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GALLERY
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Mnestia cf. villica (Gould, 1859)
Maximum size: 6 mm.
Identification:
This
species
has a thick, cylindrical shell with spiral striae and
variably developed spiral brown bands. The animal is translucent gray
flecked with white and brown.
Natural history:
Mnestia
cf. villica is a common species found in mixed habitats at
protected to moderately exposed sites and in Halimeda kanaloana beds from < 1
to 29 m (< 3 to 95 ft). It's nocturnal, burying itself in sand
during the day.
Distribution:
Big Island, Maui, Molokai, Oahu, Kauai, French Frigate Shoals and Midway: widely
distributed in the
Indo-Pacific.
Taxonomic notes:
This
is
the species listed as Cylichna
pusilla (Pease, 1860) in Kay, 1979 and it's listed as Ventomnestia bizonata in Severns, 2011. It was first reported from
Hawaii in Pease, 1860 (as Haminea
pusilla). Some authors list it as Ventomnestia girardi (Audouin, 1826) and it is listed in Pilsbry, 1921 and Edmondson, 1946 as Mnestia pusilla. It is also listed in some sources as Ventomnestia bizona (A. Adams, 1850). It's listed in Severns, 2000 as Cylichna pusilla (although the photo is of Liloa porcellana). It was previously listed as Ventomnestia villica.
Photo: CP:
dark; 5 mm: Mokolea Point, Maui; July 23, 2005.
Observations and comments:
Note
1: ( )
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