(Philippi, 1844)
Description (shell):
Shell an elongate cone of seven or eight tumid whorls; sutures deep, profile rather turreted, with a narrow, beaded, swollen subsutural band. Sculpture of strong, flexuous transverse costae, slightly crescentic on upper whorls, spiral striae and growth lines. Spiral striae numerous, major spirals separate small groups of minors; more prominent than in Bela nebula; interaction with growth lines produces erect, scale-like and conspicuous tubercles. Aperture rather narrower than in Bela nebula.
Size:
Up to 7 x 3 mm.
Colour:
Pale cream to chestnut-brown, perhaps with lilac tint.
Animal:
Like that of Bela nebula,, but the colour is white with opaque white marks, especially on the back end of the foot and on the siphon, which may also show a brown tint.
Habitat:
Not intertidal; on sand and sandy mud from 4-60 m.
Distribution:
Locally common. Distributed from Mediterranean to Norway; absent from southern North Sea (Distr. B. brachystoma).