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Nodilittorina pyramidalis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nodilittorina pyramidalis
at Long Reef, Australia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Family: Littorinidae
Genus: Nodilittorina
Species:
N. pyramidalis
Binomial name
Nodilittorina pyramidalis
(Quoy & Gaimard, 1833)
Synonyms[1]
  • Echinolittorina pyramidalis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833)
  • Littorina pyramidalis Quoy & Gaimard, 1833 (original combination)
  • Trochus nodulosus Gmelin, 1791 (invalid: junior homonym of Trochus nodulosus Solander, 1766)

Nodilittorina pyramidalis, commonly known as a pyramid periwinkle, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Littorinidae, the winkles or periwinkles.[1]

The subspecies Nodilittorina pyramidalis pascua Rosewater, 1970 is a synonym of Echinolittorina pascua (Rosewater, 1970)

Description

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The pyramid periwinkle is small, ranging from 2.5 cm to less than 1 cm in length. It is pale grey in colour, with two rows of nodules on the central whirl of its body which are a pale buff colour.

It lives on or above the high tide line, usually clinging to vertical surfaces. Many individuals will cluster together in crevices to maintain moisture.

Distribution

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Pyramid periwinkles are endemic to Australia and can be found in abundance on both the east and west coasts.

References

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  1. ^ a b Nodilittorina pyramidalis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833). WoRMS (2010). Nodilittorina pyramidalis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=437429 on 6 June 2010 .
  • Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). Checklist of marine biota of China seas. China Science Press. 1267 pp
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