Siphonaria zelandica

Taxobox
name = "Siphonaria zelandica"


image_caption =
status =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
subclassis = Orthogastropoda
superordo = Heterobranchia
ordo = Pulmonata
familia = Siphonariidae
genus = "Siphonaria"
species = "S. zelandica"
binomial = "Siphonaria zelandica"
binomial_authority = Quoy & Gaimard, 1833

"Siphonaria zelandica" is a species of medium-sized air-breathing sea snail or false limpet, a marine pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Siphonariidae, the false limpets.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is found throughout New Zealand including Stewart Island, the Chatham Islands, and the Snares Islands.

Habitat

This snail lives at and above mid-tide level on rocks in most situations.

hell description

The shell is variable in shape and in height. Compared with "Siphonaria australis" it is darker in colour, and has much stronger radial ribs. The shell coloration is light brownish externally, and internally it is almost completely chestnut-brown, the central area yellowish with dark brown patches. The margin is tipped with white at the points of the radials. The shell length is up to 27 mm, width up to 21.5 mm, and height up to 9 mm.clearleft

References

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