Daphnella arcta

Daphnella arcta is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Raphitomidae.^[1]

Daphnella arcta
Image of a shell of Daphnella arcta
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Conoidea
Family:	Raphitomidae
Genus:	Daphnella
Species:	D. arcta
Binomial name
Daphnella arcta (Smith E. A., 1884)
Synonyms[1]
Daphnella (Daphnella) arcta (Smith, 1884) Mangilia arcta Smith E.A., 1884 Pleurotoma arcta Smith E. A., 1884

Description

This is a narrow cytharoid species, evidently a near ally of the protean Paraclathurella gracilenta, Reeve, 1843. The granulately cancellate third whorl hints at identity with this, and also the form of the aperture and outer lip. But the mature shell is more abbreviate and considerably smaller. As E.A. Smith points out, there is much variation in the colour; some specimens are white, others reddish, and we have examples from Hong Kong of a dark greenish brown.^[2]

Distribution

This marine species occurs in the Persian Gulf and off Japan.