Xymene aucklandicus

Taxobox
name = "Xymene aucklandicus"


image_caption =
status =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
ordo = Sorbeoconcha
familia = Muricidae
genus = "Xymene"
species = "X. aucklandicus"
binomial = "Xymene aucklandicus"
binomial_authority = (E. A. Smith, 1902)
synonyms = "Euthria aucklandica" E. A. Smith, 1902
"Trophon columnaris" Suter, 1908
"Trophon erectus" Suter, 1909
"Buccinulum pertinax" Finlay, 1927
"Axymene turbator" Finlay, 1927
"Axymene traversi aucklandica" Fleming, 1951

"Xymene aucklandicus" is a species of predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Muricidae, the rock snails or murex snails.

Distribution

This murex species is endemic to New Zealand, including the New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands.

Habitat

This snail is found on rocky coasts, intertidally to depths of 550 m.

hell description

The shell has a rounded, less prominent peripheral angulation than "Xymene traversi". The axials are about nine per whorl, longer and not nodular at the periphery.

Coloration is variable, ranging from whitish to yellowish-brown, and sometimes chocolate.

Height is up to 13 mm, and width up to 6.4 mm.

References

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