What is "otukaia"

Otukaia is a genus of medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Calliostomatidae, the top shells. Otukaia has long been considered a subgenus of Calliostoma and is still treated as such by many authorities.

Snails in this genus are characterized by their relatively large, silky-white, thin shell. They lack an umbilicus. Their spiral whorls are flat to slightly convex. The first three spiral cords can show some sculpture that may persist on later whorls. They have a rachidian radula. They can be found worldwide in deep water.

Some authors use Otukaia Ikebe, 1942 as a subgenus in Calliostoma Swainson, 1840.

The (sub)generic name Otukaia is in honor of the Japanese malacologist Yanosuke Otuka (1903–1950), who described the type species Calliostoma kiheiziebisu Otuka, 1939.