Cantharidus purpureus
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| Cantharidus purpureus (Gmelin, 1791) |
Cantharidus purpureus is a gastropod mollusc of the family Trochidae, endemic to the North Island, and northern half of the South Island, of New Zealand. It lives on brown seaweed in clear water, at low water and below.
The shell is a tallish cone, with the surface densely and finely spirally lirate.
Coloration is variable, greenish-grey to bright rose, sometimes with oblique longitudinal reddish streaks
Height is up to 32 mm, and width 20 mm.
[edit] References
- Powell A W B, New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
- Miller M & Batt G, Reef and Beach Life of New Zealand, William Collins (New Zealand) Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1973
- Glen Pownall, New Zealand Shells and Shellfish, Seven Seas Publishing Pty Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 85467 054 8
