About Burnupena papyracea (Bruguière, 1789)
This is Burnupena papyracea, a marine species first described by Bruguière in 1789. The shell of this species reaches a maximum length of 60 mm. The shell is oblong and conical in shape, and is rather thin. Its base color is reddish-brown, marked transversely with both striae and ridges, alongside faint, barely noticeable longitudinal striae. The transverse ridges are raised and very prominent. The elongated spire contains seven whorls. These whorls are convex and depressed at their upper portion. The body whorl is longer than all of the other whorls combined. The aperture is elongated and ovate, reddish yellow in color, and slightly emarginated at its base. The outer lip is thin; at its upper internal section, where it joins the left lip, it forms a small canal. The columella is almost straight, subverrucose, and also colored reddish yellow. The shell is dull brown with fine ridges along the spirals, and has a papery outer layer that peels off when the organism dies. In life, the shell is usually encrusted by the commensal bryozoan Alcyonidium nodosum, which gives it a slightly nodular, velvety appearance in purplish to orangish brown tones. In the field, this species is easily confused with Burnupena pubescens, which does not reach the same maximum size as B. papyracea. This marine species is endemic, and occurs off the west coast of South Africa, ranging from Namibia to Hermanus, and is found subtidally down to 37 m depth.
