Monodilepas otagoensis

Monodilepas otagoensis
Black-and-white photo of apical view of the shell which is the holotype of Monodilepas otagoensis.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
(unranked):	clade Vetigastropoda
Superfamily:	Fissurelloidea
Family:	Fissurellidae
Genus:	Monodilepas
Species:	M. otagoensis
Binomial name
Monodilepas otagoensis Finlay, 1930[1]

Monodilepas otagoensis is a species of small sea snail, a keyhole limpet, a subspecies of marine gastropod mollusc in the family Fissurellidae, the keyhole limpets and slit limpets.

This species has only been found in New Zealand.^[2]

Original description

Monodilepas otagoensis was originally discovered and described by Harold John Finlay in 1930.^[1] Finlay's original text (the type description) reads as follows:

“

Monodilepas otagoensis n. sp. (Fig 6). Very close to monilifera (Hutton), the genotype, but differing in its coarser radials (less affected by the concentric ridges, so that the pits are less prominently hexagonal), more depressed shell, which is less pointed anteriorly especially in the adult, and a notably smaller foramen. The internal callus, as in monilifera, is subtriangular, the hinder margin being straight. Length, 10 mm.; breadth, 7.8 mm.; height, 2.5 mm. Locality—50 fathoms, 10 miles E.-N.-E. of Otago Heads, type and three others. Type in Finlay collection. Juveniles are difficult to separate from monilifera, but adults are easy. I have not seen this species from any other locality. Typical monilifera is in my collection from 15 fathoms, Stewart Island (topotypes); 50 fathoms, Snares Island; 50 fathoms, Oamaru; and Lyall Bay.

”

References

This article incorporates public domain text coming from New Zealand from reference.^[1]

1. ^ ^{a b c} Finlay H. J. 1930. Additions to the Recent Molluscan Fauna of New Zealand. No. 3. Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Volume 61, page 222-247.
2. ^ Powell A. W. B., William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1