Cryptospira immersa is a species of very small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cystiscidae. It is characterized by its minute, glossy shell and its subtidal habitat in sandy or muddy substrates.
Description The shell of Cryptospira immersa is typically minute, smooth, and highly polished, often appearing translucent or white. Like other members of the Cystiscidae family, it has a generally ovate or cylindrical shape with a very short spire that is often concealed or "immersed" within the last whorl, giving the species its name "immersa". The aperture is narrow, and the outer lip is usually thickened. The columella (inner lip) typically bears several folds or plications. The size of the shell rarely exceeds a few millimeters.
Distribution and Habitat Cryptospira immersa is found in the Indo-Pacific region. Its distribution includes areas such as the Philippines, Vietnam, and other parts of Southeast Asia, inhabiting tropical and subtropical marine waters. This species is benthic, living on or in the seafloor. Its preferred habitat is subtidal zones, typically found buried in fine sand or muddy sand substrates, often at depths ranging from shallow waters to several tens of meters.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Mollusca
- Class: Gastropoda
- Subclass: Caenogastropoda
- Order: Neogastropoda
- Superfamily: Muricoidea
- Family: Cystiscidae
- Genus: Cryptospira
- Species: C. immersa
The genus Cryptospira belongs to the family Cystiscidae, which was formerly often classified as a subfamily (Cystiscinae) within the larger family Marginellidae. Modern molecular and morphological studies have led to the elevation of Cystiscidae to its own distinct family.