Architectonica maxima
| Giant sundial | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Shell of Architectonica maxima from Japan at the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| (unranked): | clade Heterobranchia informal group Lower Heterobranchia |
| Superfamily: | Architectonicoidea |
| Family: | Architectonicidae |
| Genus: | Architectonica |
| Species: | A. maxima |
| Binomial name | |
| Architectonica maxima (Philippi, 1849) | |
| Synonyms | |
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Architectonica maxima, common name giant sundial, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Architectonicidae, which are known as the staircase shells or sundials. [1]
Description
Architectonica maxima has a shell that reaches 19 - 82 mm[2] and it is the largest member of the sundial family. This shell is low-spired and quite flattened, with a beaded surface. The shoulder slope is divided into two ribs by a spiral groove.[3] The basic color is cream, with brown spots.
Distribution
This species can be found in the Indo-Pacific, from East Africa and the Persian Gulf to western Pacific, Japan, eastern Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Hawaii. [2][4][5][3]
Habitat
Giant sundial is a carnivore deeper water sea snail living on sandy patches and muddy sublittoral bottoms,[3] close to soft corals, at a depth of 10 - 280 m. [5]