Serpulorbis zelandicus

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Serpulorbis zelandicus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Orthogastropoda
Superorder: Caenogastropoda
Order: Sorbeoconcha
Suborder: Hypsogastropoda
Family: Vermetidae
Genus: Serpulorbis
Species: S. zelandicus
Binomial name
Serpulorbis zelandicus
(Quoy and Gaimard, 1834)
Synonyms

Vermetus zelandicus Quoy and Gaimard, 1834
Serpulorbis sipho Suter, 1913

Serpulorbis zelandicus 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

The shell is loosely coiled, solitary, or in intertwined groups of several individuals, attached along the whole of one side, except for about the last 12 mm, which is usually directed upward. The circular aperture has a diameter of 8 to 10 mm in the adult. The surface of the tube is longitudinally ridged and crossed by sharp ribs that render the sculpture finely scaly. There is no operculum.

The coloration of the shell is yellowish-brown, and the foot-plug (which takes the place of the operculum) is orange-red. The animal is mainly yellowish-brown to deep chocolate-red in colour.

[edit] References