Trochus viridis
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| Trochus viridis | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Trochus viridis Gmelin, 1791 |
Trochus viridis is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Trochidae, the top snails.
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[edit] Distribution
This species is endemic to New Zealand.
[edit] Habitat
This top snail is common on brown seaweed at low tide. It is usually found with Micrelenchus dilatatus and Thoristella oppressa, but is less common than these species.
[edit] Shell description
The shell of this species is solid and conical, with a flat base and a rather wide false-umbilicus. Sculpture is of spire-whorls consisting of four or five spiral rows of strong rounded nodules. The base is spirally lirate, the lirae increasing in strength towards the false-umbilicus, which is smooth, apart from three or four spiral ribs.
The shell coloration is greenish-grey, or dull purplish above, and the base is yellowish or greenish grey. The interior is iridescent.
The height is up to 25 mm, and width up to 30 mm.
[edit] References
- Powell A W B, New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
- Miller M & Batt G, Reef and Beach Life of New Zealand, William Collins (New Zealand) Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1973
