Domiporta filaris
| Domiporta filaris | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Neogastropoda |
| Family: | Mitridae |
| Genus: | Domiporta |
| Species: | D. filaris
|
| Binomial name | |
| Domiporta filaris (Linnaeus, 1771)
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
(all unaccepted) | |
Domiporta filaris, commonly known as the file mitre, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Mitridae, the miters or miter snails.[1] The species was originally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1771 as Voluta filaris, based on shell morphology alone, as was typical for the period.[2]
Description
The shell is fusiform (spindle-shaped), typically slender to moderately stout, with a length ranging from approximately 14 mm to 55 mm.[3]
The shell surface is finely sculptured with extremely fine, decussate (crossing) striae, giving a subtly reticulate appearance.[2][4] The whorls are encircled by raised, thread-like spiral cords, which are characteristically reddish or rufous in colour, contrasting with the otherwise pale to white shell.[2][4]
The number and prominence of these spiral cords varies: early descriptions note three cords on the upper whorls, increasing to up to twelve on the body whorl.[2][4] Later authors documented considerable intraspecific variation, with some forms bearing fewer, thicker cords and others more numerous, finer ones.[3]
The aperture is elongate, with a simple to weakly crenulated outer lip, white internally.[2][4] The columella bears multiple oblique plaits, usually three to four, a feature that contributed to later taxonomic debate regarding species limits within the group.[3][4] The base of the shell is slightly effuse and externally margined.[4]
Taxonomy and variation
Born (1780) redescribed the species as ''Voluta filosa'', emphasising the finely reticulate shell sculpture, the raised spiral cords, and a quadriplicate columella, and introduced the vernacular name Die Schnurwalze (“the corded volute”).[4]
In the mid-19th century, Philippi (1850) transferred the species to the genus ''Mitra'' and recognised three morphological forms within what he considered a single species, ''Mitra filosa'' (sensu Lamarck). These forms differed mainly in shell slenderness and in the number, thickness, and position of the spiral cords, but were regarded as varieties rather than distinct species.[3] One of these forms was reported from the Marquesas Islands, indicating possible geographic variation.[3]
Modern classifications place the species in the genus ''Domiporta'', recognising the historical names ''Voluta filaris'' Linnaeus, 1771 and ''Voluta filosa'' Born, 1780 as synonyms of the same taxon, although not officially accepted.[1]
Distribution
This species occurs in the Red Sea, in the Indian Ocean off Chagos and the Mascarene Basin and in the Pacific Ocean off Hawaii and Australia.
References
- ^ a b c Bouchet, P. (2014). Domiporta filaris (Linnaeus, 1771). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=719034 on 2014-12-05
- ^ a b c d e Linné, Carl von (1771). Car. a Linné Mantissa plantarum : Generum editionis VI. et specierum editionis II [Mantissa of plants: a supplement to the sixth edition of the genera and the second edition of the species.] (in Latin). Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii. pp. 548–549.
- ^ a b c d e Philippi, R.A (1850). "Bemerkungen über einige Arten von Mitra" [Remarks on some species of Mitra.] (PDF). Zeitschrift für Malakozoologie (in German). 2: 25–26. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g Born, Ignaz (1780). Testacea Musei Caesarei Vindobonensis, quae jussu Mariae Theresiae Augustae disposuit et descripsit Ignatius a Born [The shells of the Imperial Museum of Vienna, arranged and described by Ignatius von Born by order of Empress Maria Theresa.] (in German). Vindobonae, sumptibus Joannis Pauli Kraus. p. 225.
- Sheppard, A (1984). The molluscan fauna of Chagos (Indian Ocean) and an analysis of its broad distribution patterns. Coral Reefs 3: 43–50
- Drivas, J. & M. Jay (1988). Coquillages de La Réunion et de l'île Maurice
External links
- "Domiporta filaris". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 12 December 2010.