About Maxwellia gemma (G.B.Sowerby II, 1879)
Maxwellia gemma (first described by G.B.Sowerby II in 1879) has a moderate-sized fusiform shell, with an overall length ranging between 16 mm and 40 mm. The shell is generally whitish, marked with spiral bands that display a reddish-brown to bluish-black color on the leading edge of each varix. It has a fairly short, subacute, conical spire, and contains five convex whorls. The body whorl is broad and spindle-shaped. Each spire whorl holds six rounded varices: these are broader on the body whorl, while they are thinner and curved back on the stubby apical whorls and around the siphonal canal. The sutures between adjacent whorls are deep, and are crossed by the oblique varices. The aperture is porcelaneous white, oval-shaped, and has a finely dentate outer lip. The siphonal canal is quite short, almost entirely closed, and curves to the left at the shell's base. There is no distinct visible anal canal. The inner surface of the aperture has a rippled shape, which matches the form of the ribs on the shell's outer surface. The columella is smooth. This species is distributed in the Pacific Ocean, ranging from California down to Central Baja California, Mexico. It occurs in rocky habitats from the littoral zone down to depths of 55 meters, and is frequently found in large populations on breakwaters and near bay entrances.
