Blue periwinkle

Blue periwinkle
Blue periwinkle
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Caenogastropoda
clade Hypsogastropoda
clade Littorinimorpha
Superfamily: Littorinoidea
Family: Littorinidae
Genus: Nodilittorina
Species: N. unifasciata
Binomial name
Nodilittorina unifasciata
(Grey, 1826)

The Blue Periwinkle or Nodilittorina unifasciata Grey, 1826, is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Littorinidae, the periwinkles.

The common name of this snail derives from the pale bluish-grey color of the shell, which ranges in adult size from 10 mm to 16 mm.

Contents

Distribution

This common periwinkle lives in Australia and New Zealand.Is also commonly found in South Pacific Islands such as Norfolk Island.

Ecology

This species of periwinkle lives in the splash zone and high intertidal zone, where it is found in clusters of individuals. The blue periwinkle grazes on lichen and algae. This small snail is eaten by crabs and birds.

References

  • G.J. Edgar - Australian Marine Life ; Reed New Holland Publishers (1997)
  • W.J. Dakin - Australian Sea Shores; Angus and Robertson Publishers (1952)

External links

  • Nomenclature: [1]
  • Other information: [2]
  • Image of a cluster of individuals: [3]