Barbatia novaezelandiae
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| Barbatia novaezelandiae (E.A.Smith,1915) |
Barbatia novaezelandiae, or the New Zealand ark, is a bivalve mollusc of the family Arcidae, endemic to New Zealand. It is found around the North, South, Stewart and Chatham islands, on the underside of boulders at low tide to depths of over 50 m.
The shell is moderate to large in size, elongated rhomboidal, with subparallel dorsal and ventral margins. It is sculptured with many fine radial ribs, crossed by equally numerous concentric grooves. The hinge plate is long and narrow, with numerous teeth which are inclined inwards. The exterior has a coarse tufted dark-brown periostracum, and the animal is fastened to the rock by a strong byssus.
Coloration is dull-white to light brown externally, and white tinged with brown internally.
Height is up to 42 mm, length 74 mm, and thickness 28 mm.
[edit] References
- Powell A. W. B., New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
- Glen Pownall, New Zealand Shells and Shellfish, Seven Seas Publishing Pty Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 85467-054-8
