The Maltese top-shell

Abstract

In 1851 the British malacologist A. Adams published a work on a rather primitive group of marine snails known as Top-Shells. In this Adams described many species for the first time, amongst which was one which he described as follows: "T. orbiculato-conoidea, umbilicata, cinerea, maculis nivosis subrotundatis picta, transversim sulcata, longitudinaliter substriata; apertura subrotundata; columellaflexuosa, basi rotundata. ,, Adams named this species Gibbula nivosa because of the regularly spaced markings on the base of the shell which remind one of falling snowflakes. Unfortunately Adams did not figure this species nor say where the specimens on which he based his description came from.