natica

[Lat. natis the rump. ( Aga iz.)] 1. Zool.: The typical genus of the family Naticide (q. v.). The shell is smooth and thick, the inner lip callous, umbilicus large, with a spiral callus. The animal frequents sandy and gravelly bottoms, from low water to ninety fathoms. Widely distributed, most abundant in the tropics. More than ninety species have been described. 2. Palæont .: Said to commence in the Silurian; abundant in all Secondary and Tertiary formations. na-tiç-i-dæ, s. pl . [Mod. Lat. natic (a); Lat. fem. pl. adj. suff. -idœ .] 1. Zool .: A family of marine holostomatous Gasteropods. Shell globular, of few whorls, with a small spire; outer lip acute; inner lip often callous; foot very large; mantle-lobes hiding more or le of the shell. Five genera and 270 species known. ( Wallace .) 2. Palæont .: Stated to commence in the Upper Silurian. ( Nicholson .) About 300 extinct species, ranging from the Devonian to the Pliocene. ( Wal lace .)