Patelloida corticata

Taxobox
name = "Patelloida corticata"


image_caption =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Mollusca
classis = Gastropoda
ordo = Patellogastropoda
subordo = Nacellina
superfamilia = Lottioidea
familia = Acmaeidae
genus = "Atalacmea"
species = "A. fragilis"
binomial = "Patelloida corticata"
binomial_authority = (Hutton, 1880)
synonyms = "Acmaea corticata" Hutton, 1880
"Acmaea lacunosa" Pilsbry, 1891
"Acmaea stella" Suter, 1907
"Acmaea pseudocorticata" Iredale, 1908
"Patelloida corticata corallina" Oliver, 1926

"Patelloida corticata" is a species of sea snail or true limpet, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Acmaeidae.

Distribution

This limpet is endemic to New Zealand.

Habitat

This species is abundant in the intertidal zone in clear water situations.

Description

The shell is thick, porcellaneous, radially ridged, the margin varyingly crenulated according to the strength or alternation in size of the ribbing, and the shape in response to the physical factors associated with the habitat. The exterior of the shell is invariably encrusted with "Melobesia" coralline algae. Internally the shell may be almost entirely porcellaneous-white, or there may be a narrow marginal border of dark-brown markings, either confined to the terminal points of the ribs, or joined up in a continuous scalloped border. The muscle attachment mark on the underside of the shell varies from clearly defined in dark brown to obscured by white callus.

Length is up to 14 mm, width up to 13 mm, and height up to 9 mm. clearleft

References

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