Livonia mammilla, common name false melon or false baler, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk of the genus Livonia in the family Volutidae, the volutes.
Distribution This marine species occurs off South East Australia from Western Victoria to New South Wales, Southern Queensland and Tasmania.Memoirs of the Museum of Victoria, pg. 255Australia Biological Resources
Description
Shells of Livonia mammilla can reach a size of . These large shells are characterized by a greatly swollen apex and a lightweight protoconch with a diameter of about . Whorls are smooth and rounded, with axial growth lines and weak spiral grooves on the top of the body whorl. Columella shows four plaits and the outer lip is smooth and flared outwards. The background colour is yellowish-brown or cream, while the inner edge of outer lip may be white or orange. Body whorl usually has two wide spiral bands of axial zigzag brown lines, but this pattern is variable.Des Beechey Sea Shells of NSW
The distinctive patterns on the shell are produced by a process analogous to a linear cellular automaton and can accordingly resemble fractal shapes like the Sierpinski gasket.
Habitat These moderately common sea snails live in subtidal waters and offshore on sand and mud, at depths of 73 to 457 m., emerging at night to feed.Molluscs of Tasmania
Bibliography A.G. Hinton – Guide to Australian Shells Allan, J.K. 1950. Australian Shells: with related animals living in the sea, in freshwater and on the land. Melbourne : Georgian House Bail, P & Poppe, G. T. 2001. A conchological iconography: a taxonomic introduction of the recent Volutidae. Hackenheim-Conchbook, 30 pp, 5 pl. Barry Wilson – Australian Marine Shells Part 2 Harald Douté, M. A. Fontana Angioy – Volutes, The Doute collection Macpherson, J.H. & Gabriel, C.J. 1962. Marine Molluscs of Victoria. Melbourne : Melbourne University Press & National Museum of Victoria
References
External links
Encyclopedia of life