Muricopsis espinosus mariae

Taxobox
name = "Muricopsis espinosus mariae"


image_caption =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
ordo = Neogastropoda
familia = Muricidae
genus = "Muricopsis"
species = "M. espinosus"
subspecies = "M. espinosus mariae"
trinomial = "Muricopsis espinosus mariae"
trinomial_authority = (Finlay, 1930)
synonyms = "Murexsul mariae" Finlay, 1930

"Muricopsis espinosus mariae" is a subspecies of medium-sized sea snail, a predatory marine gastropod mollusc in the Family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.

Distribution

This subspecies is endemic to New Zealand. It is found along the east coast of the North Island south to East Cape.

Habitat

This muricid is found from low water level to depths of up to 70 m.

hell description

The shell is smaller than "Muricopsis octogonus", and has no spines. It is however boldly sculptured with broadly-rounded axial folds, overridden by prominent sharply raised spiral cords.

The shell coloration is yellowish-brown to dark purplish-brown.

The maximum shell height is 25 mm, and width 12 mm.

References

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