Serpulorbis aotearoicus

Taxobox
name = "Serpulorbis aotearoicus"


status =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
subclassis = Orthogastropoda
superordo = Caenogastropoda
ordo = Sorbeoconcha
subordo = Hypsogastropoda
familia = Vermetidae
genus = "Serpulorbis"
species = "S. aotearoicus"
binomial = "Serpulorbis aotearoicus"
binomial_authority = Morton, 1951

"Serpulorbis aotearoicus" is a species of sea snail, a worm snail or worm shell, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Vermetidae, the worm snails.

Distribution

This species is endemic to the north east coast of the North Island of New Zealand.

Description

This species is indistinguishable from "Serpulorbis zelandicus" in shell characteristics, except for the coloration, which tends to be darker brown to purplish-brown. However it is quite distinctive in the coloration of the animal and in the radula, especially the narrow shape of the central tooth. The foot-plug (which takes the place of the operculum) is yellow and black. The predominant colour of the head, proboscis and foot is black, lightened to pinkish-brown further back on the trunk. Both "Serpulorbis aotearoicus" and "Serpulorbis zelandicus" occur in the same habitat, and may even be found on the same rock.

References

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