Herpetopoma bella

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Herpetopoma bella
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Prosobranchia
Order: Archaeogastropoda
Superfamily: Trochacea
Family: Trochidae
Genus: Herpetopoma
Species: H. bella
Binomial name
Herpetopoma bella
(Hutton, 1873)
Synonyms

Euchelus bellus Hutton, 1873
Huttonia iricolor T. W. Kirk, 1882
Huttonia hamiltoni T. W. Kirk, 1882
Euchelus bellus Suter, 1913

Herpetopoma bella is a species of marine gastropod mollusc in the family Trochidae, the top shells.

Contents

[edit] Distribution

This top shell is endemic to the North Island of New Zealand, and the Chatham Islands.

[edit] Habitat

It is commonly found under stones at low water, often covered by a bright red sponge.

[edit] Shell description

The shell is globose-conic, solid, imperforate in adult. Sculpture consists of spiral granose cords, six or seven on the penultimate whorl. The aperture is circular, with two strong tubercles, separated by a notch, at the base of the columella.

Coloration is dull blackish-brown, silvery iridescent within the aperture.

The maximum shell height is 6.5 mm, and width 6.5 mm.

[edit] References