Alcithoe haurakiensis

Taxobox
name = "Alcithoe haurakiensis"


image_caption =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
ordo = Sorbeoconcha
familia = Volutidae
genus = "Alcithoe"
species = "A. haurakiensis"
binomial = "Alcithoe haurakiensis"
binomial_authority = Dell, 1956

"Alcithoe haurakiensis" is a medium-sized deepwater 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 east coast of the North Island from Northland to East Cape.

Habitat

This volute is found at depths of about 90 m.

hell description

The large solid shell of this species has a weakly shouldered and axially costate spire, but a smooth sub-inflated body whorl.

The 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 pattern is similar to, but darker and more distinct than, "Alcithoe fusus".

The shell height is up to 64 mm, and the width up to 24 mm.

References

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