Pedicularia pacifica

Taxobox
name = "Pedicularia pacifica"


regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
subclassis = Orthogastropoda
superordo = Caenogastropoda
ordo = Sorbeoconcha
subordo = Hypsogastropoda
infraordo = Littorinimorpha
cohort = Neogastropoda
superfamilia = Cypraeoidea
familia = Ovulidae
genus = "Pedicularia"
species = "P. pacifica"
binomial = "Pedicularia pacifica"
binomial_authority = Pease, 1865
synonyms = "Pedicularia stylasteris" Hedley, 1903
"Pediculariona stylasteris" Iredale, 1935
"Pedicularia maoria" Powell, 1937

"Pedicularia pacifica" is a species of small predatory or ectoparasitic sea snail, a cowry-like marine gastropod mollusc in the family Ovulidae, the cowry allies.

Distribution

This species is found in the central Pacific south to northeastern Australia and the northern tip of the North Island of New Zealand.

Habitat

These snails live on and feed on certain corals.

hell description

The shell is small, ovate, but variable in outline. The aperture is oblong, with an excavated columella, edentulous in the adult. The outer lip is thin and spreading, not thickened or recurved. Sculpture of numerous spiral threads, crossed by axial striae.

The external shell coloration is uniformly creamy-buff or pink.

The shell height is up to 5 mm, and width 2.5 mm.

External links

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