Hyperstrophic Malformation of Lunella correensis (Récluz, 1853) (Vetigastropoda: Turbinidae)

Abstract

We report a rare case of hyperstrophy in the intertidal turban snail Lunella correensis (Récluz, 1853), which was recently found in the collection of Kumagusu Minakata, a Japanese naturalist and folklorist. Although the soft-part anatomy is unknown, the combination of shell morphological characters indicate that the specimen is clearly dextral and hyperstrophic. Such variations in chilarity mostly hinder normal growth, hence an abnormal hyperstrophic adult individual is extremely rare. This mutation in chilarity is the first reported case of a hyperstrophic individual in Vetigastropoda.