Micrelenchus sanguineus cryptus

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Micrelenchus sanguineus cryptus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Prosobranchia
Order: Archaeogastropoda
Superfamily: Trochacea
Family: Trochidae
Genus: Micrelenchus
Species: M. sanguineus
Subspecies: M. sanguineus cryptus
Trinomial name
Micrelenchus sanguineus cryptus
Powell, 1946
Synonyms

Trochus sanguineus Gray, 1843
Cantharidus pupillus Suter, 1913
Micrelenchus oliveri cryptus Powell, 1946

Micrelenchus sanguineus cryptus is a subspecies of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Trochidae, the top shells.

Contents

[edit] Distribution

This subspecies is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand.

[edit] Habitat

This top snail is found in the holdfasts of giant kelp in the genus Durvillea.

[edit] Shell description

The shell is turbinate, solid, broad with few spiral cords, and a subobsolete peripheral angulation.

Shell coloration is pale purplish-grey, with the early whorls either axially streaked or tessellated with rose.

The shell height is up to 9 mm, and the width is up to 9 mm.

[edit] References