Thalassocyon tui

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Thalassocyon tui
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Orthogastropoda
Superorder: Caenogastropoda
Order: Sorbeoconcha
Suborder: Hypsogastropoda
Infraorder: Littorinimorpha
Superfamily: Ficoidea
Family: Ficidae
Genus: Thalassocyon
Species: T. tui
Binomial name
Thalassocyon tui
Dell, 1967

Thalassocyon tui is a species of medium-sized sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Ficidae, the fig shells.

[edit] Distribution

This species is found off the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, and the Kermadec Islands.

[edit] Shell description

The shell is moderately large, with a very depressed and broad spire, a sharp flanged peripheral keel, produced into triangular lamellate upcurved spines, and a long straight siphonal canal. The surface sculpture is of closely spaced, fine spiral cords.

The shell coloration is pale fawn. The protoconch and the interior of the aperture are reddish-brown.

The shell height is up to 52 mm, and the width up to 35 mm.

[edit] References