Lorica haurakiensis

Taxobox
name = "Lorica haurakiensis"
status =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Polyplacophora
ordo = Neoloricata
subordo = Chitonina
familia = Loricidae
genus = "Lorica"
species = "L. haurakiensis"
binomial = "Lorica haurakiensis"
binomial_authority = Mestayer, 1921
synonyms = "Lorica volvox" Suter, 1907

"Lorica haurakiensis" is a rare species of chiton in the family Loricidae.

Distribution

This species is endemic to the North and South islands of New Zealand.

Habitat

This chiton lives on rocks from below low water to depths of about 45 m.

Description

The shell is rather large and solid, elongate-ovate, and high arched. It is elaborately sculptured with narrow longitudinal ribs over the central area, radial granose to spinose ribs on the lateral areas, and 14 granose radial ribs on the head valve.

Coloration is dull reddish-brown, paler down the crest of the valves, and irregularly maculated in darker reddish-brown. The girdle has dark reddish-brown bands extending out from the sutures.

Length is up to 52 mm, and the width is up to 34 mm.

References

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