Phalium areola
{{Short description|Species of gastropod}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Phalium areola 01.JPG
| image_caption = Shell of Phalium areola
| genus = Phalium
| species = areola
| authority = (Linnaeus, 1758)
| synonyms =
- Cassis alea Röding, P.F., 1798
- Cassis areola (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Phalium agnitum Iredale, T., 1927
- Phalium areolata Schumacher, H.C.F., 1817
- Phalium clathratum Link, H.F., 1807
- Phalium extinctum Link, H.F., 1807
- Phalium sulcatum Link, H.F., 1807
}}
Phalium areola, common name the checkerboard bonnet, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the subfamily Cassinae, within the family Cassidae the helmet and bonnet shells. It is also known as the checkerboard bonnet shell.Gofas, S. (2011). Phalium areola (Linnaeus, 1758). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=217009 on 2011-06-22
File: Phalium areola shell.jpg of Phalium areola]]
Distribution
This species occurs in the Indian Ocean along Madagascar, the Mascarene Basin, Tanzania and off the southern African coast from KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique.Steyn, D.G. & Lussi, M. 2005. Offshore Shells of Southern Africa {{ISBN|0-620-33607-2}} It can also be found in Melanesia and along Samoa.[http://www.sealifebase.org/summary/Phalium-areola.html Sealife Base]
Description
The size of an adult shell varies between 35 mm and 130 mm.{{Gastropods.com|key=1|id=191|title=Phalium areola|access-date=12 January 2019}}
These medium-sized shells are oval and acuminate, with a rather narrow mouth, the outer lip folded back and internally denticulate. Shoulder are not angulate nor plicate and the anterior prickles on outer lip obsolete. The surface of the shell is white with five series of large squarish red-brown spots (hence the common name). Later whorls show spiral striae anteriorly on whorls and above shoulders.[https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/name/Phalium+areola# Annals of the South African Museum] Vol. XLVIII (1963-1974) page 11Iredale, T., 1927. [http://australianmuseum.net.au/uploads/journals/17153/819_complete.pdf A review of Australian helmet shells (family Cassididae- phylum Mollusca).] Records of the Australian Museum 15(5): 321–354
References
{{Commons category}}
{{Reflist}}
- Arianna Fulvo and Roberto Nistri (2005). 350 coquillages du monde entier. Delachaux et Niestlé (Paris) : 256 p. ({{ISBN|2-603-01374-2}})
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1056088}}
Category:Gastropods described in 1758
Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
{{Cassidae-stub}}