Thalassocyon tui

Taxobox
name = "Thalassocyon tui"


regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
subclassis = Orthogastropoda
superordo = Caenogastropoda
ordo = Sorbeoconcha
subordo = Hypsogastropoda
infraordo = Littorinimorpha
cohort = Neogastropoda
superfamilia = Ficoidea
familia = Ficidae
genus = "Thalassocyon"
species = "T. tui"
binomial = "Thalassocyon tui"
binomial_authority = Dell, 1967

"Thalassocyon tui" is a species of medium-sized sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Ficidae, the fig shells.

Distribution

This species is found off the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, and the Kermadec Islands.

hell description

The shell is moderately large, with a very depressed and broad spire, a sharp flanged peripheral keel, produced into triangular lamellate upcurved spines, and a long straight siphonal canal. The surface sculpture is of closely spaced, fine spiral cords.

The shell coloration is pale fawn. The protoconch and the interior of the aperture are reddish-brown.

The shell height is up to 52 mm, and the width up to 35 mm.

References

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