Serpulorbis aotearoicus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Serpulorbis aotearoicus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Orthogastropoda
Superorder: Caenogastropoda
Order: Sorbeoconcha
Suborder: Hypsogastropoda
Family: Vermetidae
Genus: Serpulorbis
Species: S. aotearoicus
Binomial name
Serpulorbis aotearoicus
Morton, 1951

Serpulorbis aotearoicus is a species of sea snail, a worm snail or worm shell, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Vermetidae, the worm snails.

[edit] Distribution

This species is endemic to the north east coast of the North Island of New Zealand.

[edit] Description

This species is indistinguishable from Serpulorbis zelandicus in shell characteristics, except for the coloration, which tends to be darker brown to purplish-brown. However it is quite distinctive in the coloration of the animal and in the radula, especially the narrow shape of the central tooth. The foot-plug (which takes the place of the operculum) is yellow and black. The predominant colour of the head, proboscis and foot is black, lightened to pinkish-brown further back on the trunk. Both Serpulorbis aotearoicus and Serpulorbis zelandicus occur in the same habitat, and may even be found on the same rock.

[edit] References