Alcithoe fusus

Taxobox
name = "Alcithoe fusus"


image_caption =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
ordo = Sorbeoconcha
familia = Volutidae
genus = "Alcithoe"
species = "A. fusus"
binomial = "Alcithoe fusus"
binomial_authority = Quoy and Gaimard, 1833

"Alcithoe fusus" is a medium-sized sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Volutidae, the volutes.

Range of Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is found around the southern part of the North Island, and around the South Island north of Otago

Habitat

This volute is found from shallow waters to depths of up to 90 m.

hell description

The shell is large and solid, with a weakly shouldered and axially costate spire, but a smooth sub-inflated body whorl.

The external shell coloration is pale pinkish-buff, with narrow zigzag axial lines in light reddish-brown, regularly darker in places, forming three spiral zones on the body whorl. The shell is often stained a dark rusty-brown.

The shell height is up to 73 mm, and the width is up to 29 mm.

References

* Powell A W B, "New Zealand Mollusca", William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
* Glen Pownall, "New Zealand Shells and Shellfish", Seven Seas Publishing Pty Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 85467 054 8