Alcithoe ostenfeldi

Taxobox
name = "Alcithoe ostenfeldi"


image_caption =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
ordo = Sorbeoconcha
familia = Volutidae
genus = "Alcithoe"
species = "A. ostenfeldi"
binomial = "Alcithoe ostenfeldi"
binomial_authority = (Iredale, 1937)

"Alcithoe ostenfeldi" is a very large 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 along the west coast of the South Island.

Habitat

This volute is found at depths of about 30 m.

hell description

This large shell is broadly fusiform but of light build, with evenly convex whorls, and smooth except for weak axial sculpture on the first two post-nuclear whorls.

The external shell coloration is uniformly dull pinkish-orange.

The shell height is up to 195 mm, and the shell width up to 85 mm.

References

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