Cellana rota Gmelin, 1791

Vakani, Bhavik, Nakano, Tomoyuki & Kundu, Rahul, 2020, Diversity and taxonomy of the intertidal patellogastropod limpets of the mainland Indian coastline, Zootaxa 4728 (2), pp. 211-226 : 216-217

Cellana rota Gmelin, 1791

( Fig. 4 , Fig. 9c )

Descrpition. Shell reaches up to 40 mm in length; almost circular, broader posteriorly, moderately elevated. Apex blunt, sub-central. Sculpture consisting of numerous, narrow, radial riblets, numbering from 69 to 98. Coloration variable, often yellowish with radial rays of blackish-brown, interspersed with whitish rays, with 11 to 12 bifid radial streaks in brown; inner surface of shell mostly translucent. Foot creamy-white in colour. Same coloration observed at tip of cephalic tentacles, which covers one third of its length. Each unit of mantle skirt has two large tentacles protected by four pairs of small units of tentacles. These units consist of three tentacles in which middle one is bigger than other two.

Radular morphology ( Fig. 9c ). Radula type: docoglossan formula: 1 + D1 + 1 + D1 +1. The radular ribbon of C. rota is similar to that of individuals of the C. radiata series. In every row, there is a spear-shaped very small rachidian or middle tooth. There was one bifurcated lateral tooth on each side. One dominant marginal tooth also bifurcated on each side.

Materials Examined. Specimens were collected from Kovalam coast, Travancore coast Kerala, India (8°23’41.43”N, 76°58'16.25"E). Six specimens (Length 14.5–30.3 ± 6.64 mm, Width 11.6–27.3 ± 6.09 mm and Height 4.9–12.8 ± 2.97 were examined. Two specimen having Museum ID: ZMGDNC78.10, ZMGDNC83.21, coll. Bhavik Vakani, were deposited in the Museum.

Remark. Powell (1973) included it under species C. radiata series, but our specimens showed more similarity with C. rota which is now regarded as a separate species (WoRMS, 2017).

Habitat. Puddles and crevices of middle to upper littoral zones of the intertidal.

Distribution. This species is available throughout the mainland Indian coastline except the south Saurashtra coastline of the Gujarat state.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Cellana rota. a (dorsal), b (ventral), c (ventral empty shell), d (lateral). a–d (ZMGDNC78.10), e–g variants of Cellana rota—e (ZMGDNC34.4e), f (ZMGDNC34.4f), g (ZMGDNC83.21).

FIGURE 9. Radular teeth of patellogastropods (x 50). a: Cellana karachiensis, b: Cellana radiata, c: Cellana rota, d: Cellana conciliata, e: Cellana cylindrica, f: Patelloida lentiginosa, g: Lottia sp. (0.5 mm).