Thoristella chathamensis aucklandica
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| Thoristella chathamensis aucklandica (E. A Smith, 1902) |
Thoristella chathamensis aucklandica is a subspecies of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Trochidae, the top snails or top shell.
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[edit] Distribution
This subspecies is endemic to New Zealand, found around the Auckland Islands, the Bounty Islands, and off Otago Heads.
[edit] Habitat
These top snails are found from low tide to depths of up to 110 m.
[edit] Description
The shell is variable in height, strength of peripheral keel, and presence or absence of subsutural axials, but it is always without maculations. The typical form is tall-conical, with straight outlines, a broadly angled, but not flanged periphery, flat-topped spiral cords, only weak subsutural axial folds at most, and colour dull pink, yellowish towards the white umbilicus, and pearly within the aperture.
The shell height is up to 9 mm, and width 9 mm.
[edit] References
- Powell A. W. B., New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
