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Domiporta filaris

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Domiporta filaris, commonly known as the file mitre, is a species of sea snail in the mitre family (Mitridae). It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1771 as Voluta filaris. Over time it has had several names, including Voluta filosa and Mitra filaris, but today it is placed in the genus Domiporta.

The shell is spindle-shaped (fusiform) and ranges from about 14 to 55 mm long. It has a finely cross-hatched, net-like surface and raised spiral cords that are usually reddish against a pale shell. The number of cords varies a lot, from a few on the upper whorls to as many as twelve on the body whorl. The opening is elongated, the outer lip is only weakly notched, and the inside is white. The columella (the central pillar inside the shell) has 3 to 4 oblique folds.

Historically, Born described it as Voluta filosa, noting its reticulate sculpture and corded appearance. In 1850, Philippi moved the species to Mitra and described several forms within what he called Mitra filosa, though these were often treated as varieties rather than separate species. Modern classifications place this snail in the genus Domiporta, with Voluta filaris and Voluta filosa considered synonyms of the same species.

Domiporta filaris occurs in warm seas from the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean (around Chagos and the Mascarene Basin) to the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii and Australia.


This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 22:47 (CET).