Architectonica maxima

Architectonica maxima, the 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]

Shells of Architectonica maxima

Architectonica maxima
Shell of Architectonica maxima from Japan at the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Family:	Architectonicidae
Genus:	Architectonica
Species:	A. maxima
Binomial name
Architectonica maxima (Philippi, 1849)
Synonyms
Solarium maximum Philippi, 1849[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]