Xymene teres

Taxobox
name = "Xymene teres"


image_caption =
status =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
ordo = Sorbeoconcha
familia = Muricidae
genus = "Xymene"
species = "X. teres"
binomial = "Xymene teres"
binomial_authority = (Finlay, 1930)
synonyms = "Axymene teres" Finlay, 1930

"Xymene teres" 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 the otago coast of New Zealand.

Habitat

This snail is found on rocky coasts at depths of about 90 m.

hell description

The shell is very similar to "Xymene aucklandicus" and may be identical to it. There are only two specimens known, and they have seven axials per whorl, two less than "aucklandicus".

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

Height is up to 6 mm, and width up to 3.3 mm.

References

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