Mayena australasia australasia

Taxobox
name = "Mayena australasia australasia"


image_caption =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
subclassis = Orthogastropoda
superordo = Caenogastropoda
ordo = Sorbeoconcha
subordo = Hypsogastropoda
superfamilia = Tonnoidea
familia = Ranellidae
subfamilia = Ranellinae
genus = "Mayena"
species = "M. australasia"
subspecies = "M. australasia australasia"
trinomial = "Mayena australasia australasia"
trinomial_authority = (Perry, 1811)
synonyms = "Biplex australasia" Perry, 1811
"Mayena zelandica" Finlay, 1927

"Mayena australasia australasia" is a large subspecies of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Ranellidae, the tritons.

Distribution

This subspecies is endemic to south east Australia and the North and South islands of New Zealand.

Habitat

This triton is found from the low tide level to depths of up to 80 m.

hell description

The shell is large and solid, with a short recurved siphonal canal. The varices are strong and rounded. Sculpture consists of rounded nodes, and an overall dense pattern of fine lirations, crossed by fine dense axial threads.

Coloration varies from light yellowish-brown to dark purplish-brown, the varices banded in alternate white and brown. The aperture and callus are porcellanous-white.

The shell height is up to 94 mm, and the width is up to 54 mm.

References

* Powell A W B, "New Zealand Mollusca", William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1