Gadinalea conica

Taxobox
name = "Gadinalea conica"
status =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
subclassis = Orthogastropoda
superordo = Heterobranchia
ordo = Pulmonata
familia = Trimusculidae
genus = "Gadinalea"
species = "G. conica"
binomial = "Gadinalea conica"
binomial_authority = (Angas, 1940)
synonyms = "Gadinia conica" Angas, 1867
"Gadinia nivea" Hutton, 1878
"Amalthea hexagona" Suter, 1906
"Hipponix hexagonus" (Suter, 1913)
"Gadinia nivea" Suter, 1913
"Hipponix hexagonus" Powell, 1924

"Gadinalea conica" is a pulmonate gastropod mollusc of the family Trimusculidae, endemic to eastern and southern Australia, and New Zealand including the Chatham Islands.

The shell is normally broadly-ovate to near circular, thin, white, and multi-ribbed, the sharp low-profile apex just behind the middle. This species lives in colonies on the roofs of low caverns, at about low water mark, and crowding of individuals results in high-arched forms, attached to the backs of low-spread ones that are in direct contact with the rock. The siphonal canal is inconspicuous, and does not protrude at the margin.

* Low form: Length is up to 26 mm, width 22.5 mm, and height 8 mm
* High form: Length is up to 22 mm, width 18.5 mm, and height 15 mm.

References

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