Cabestana waterhousei

Taxobox
name = "Cabestana waterhousei"


image_caption =
status =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
ordo = Sorbeoconcha
familia = Ranellidae
genus = "Cabestana"
species = "C. waterhousei"
binomial = "Cabestana waterhousei"
binomial_authority = (A. Adams & Angas, 1864)

"Cabestana waterhousei" is a species of large predatory sea snail sometimes known as a predatory whelk, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Ranellidae, the tritons.

Distribution

This species is endemic to southern Australia, the North and South Islands of New Zealand, and the Kermadec Islands.

Habitat

This "Cabestana" species is found subtidally, at depths of between low tide level and 45 metres.

hell description

The shell is smaller than "Cabestana spengleri", with sharper flange-like varices, and a different periostracum, that is thick, axially ridged, and is produced into long filaments at the varices. Also the spiral ridges are more sharply raised, and each is divided by a deep spiral groove.

The external shell coloration is pale yellowish-brown, with obscure reddish-brown maculations, under a dark olive-brown periostracum.

The shell height is up to 72 mm, and the width is up to 40 mm.

References

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