Trochus viridis

Taxobox
name = "Trochus viridis"
status =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
subclassis = Prosobranchia
ordo = Archaeogastropoda
superfamilia = Trochacea
familia = Trochidae
genus = Trochus
species = "T. viridis"
binomial = "Trochus viridis"
binomial_authority = Gmelin, 1791

"Trochus viridis" is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Trochidae, the top snails.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.

Habitat

This top snail is common on brown seaweed at low tide. It is usually found with "Micrelenchus dilatatus" and "Thoristella oppressa", but is less common than these species.

hell description

The shell of this species is solid and conical, with a flat base and a rather wide false-umbilicus. Sculpture is of spire-whorls consisting of four or five spiral rows of strong rounded nodules. The base is spirally lirate, the lirae increasing in strength towards the false-umbilicus, which is smooth, apart from three or four spiral ribs.

The shell coloration is greenish-grey, or dull purplish above, and the base is yellowish or greenish grey. The interior is iridescent.

The height is up to 25 mm, and width up to 30 mm.

References

* Powell A W B, "New Zealand Mollusca", William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
* Miller M & Batt G, "Reef and Beach Life of New Zealand", William Collins (New Zealand) Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1973