Maoricrypta monoxyla

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Maoricrypta monoxyla
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusc
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Orthogastropoda
Superorder: Heterobranchia
Order: Sorbeoconcha
Suborder: Hypsogastropoda
Family: Calyptraeidae
Genus: Maoricrypta
Species: M. monoxyla
Binomial name
Maoricrypta monoxyla
Lesson, 1831

Maoricrypta monoxyla is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Calyptraeidae.

Contents

[edit] Distribution

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

[edit] Habitat

Shells are found intertidally to depths of up to about 475 m.

[edit] Shell description

The shell is smooth, highly variable in shape according to the shape of the object to which the shell is attached - arched if attached to the outside of a shell, or even concave if attached to the inside.

The shell coloration is dull white externally, and highly polished on the underside.

The shell height is up to 4 mm, width 29.5 mm, and length 34 mm, for the flat form, and height of up to 10 mm, width 12.5 mm, and length 20 mm, for the arched form.

[edit] References