Kisago (Kisago) - Kisago (English spelling) Umbonium costatum

Japanese: キサゴ(喜佐古) - キサゴ（英語表記）Umbonium costatum

A snail shell of the family Celastridae that is common on the sandy bottom of inland seas (illustration). It is also called Kishago, Shitadami, and Zezegai. The shell is 1 cm high and 1.5 cm wide. The upper side of the shell is shiny and has thin grooves that follow the spiral, while the underside is smooth and has reddish lime deposits in the center. The shell pattern varies from individual to individual, but most have a yellow background with a row of faint black spots. The edges of the shell opening do not thicken even in adult shells, and the inside has a pearlescent luster. As it burrows into the sand, the edge of the mantle membrane at the front of the soft body becomes water tube-like, through which it draws in water.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

内海の砂底に多いニシキウズガイ科の巻貝（イラスト）。キシャゴ，シタダミ，ゼゼガイなどともいう。殻の高さ1cm，太さ1.5cm。殻表の上側は光沢があり，巻きに従って細い溝があるが，下側はなめらかで，中央部に赤みのある石灰が沈着している。殻の模様は個体によって変異があるが，多くは黄色の地に黒斑がかすり状に並んでいる。殻口は成貝でもその縁が厚くならず，内面には真珠光沢がある。砂中に潜るので軟体の前方の外套（がいとう）膜縁が水管状となり，そこより水を吸いこむ。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

<<: Catalpa - Catalpa

>>: Scraping