Austrotriton parkinsonia

Taxobox
name = "Austrotriton parkinsonia"


image_width = 240px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
subclassis = Orthogastropoda
superordo = Caenogastropoda
ordo = Sorbeoconcha
subordo = Hypsogastropoda
superfamilia = Tonnoidea
familia = Ranellidae
genus = "Austrotriton"
species = "A. parkinsonia"
binomial = "Austrotriton parkinsonia"
binomial_authority = (Perry, 1811)
synonyms = "Septa parkinsonia" Perry, 1811
"Cymatium parkinsonianum" Suter, 1813

"Austrotriton parkinsonia" is a medium-sized sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Ranellidae, sometimes known as the tritons.

Distribution

This species of triton is endemic to southeastern Australia and the north east coast of the North Island of New Zealand.

Habitat

It is found from low tide level down to depths of 20 m.

hell description

The shell is rather small and solid, with a conical spire, capacious body whorl, but small aperture ending in a recurved canal of moderate length. The inner lip is free edged, and smooth, except for a parietal tubercle. Sculpture consists of distant varices, and strong blunt axials, not reaching either suture. The whole surface is crowded with fine, flat-topped, slightly granulose spiral lirae.

The shell coloration is pale yellowish-brown, under a greenish-olive periostracum.

The height is up to 46 mm, and the width is 25 mm.

References

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