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Cocculinella coercita (Hedley, 1907) Description: Shell light in weight, very elongate, apex almost central. Protoconch smooth, strongly demarcated from teleoconch. Teleoconch with anterior slope straight to convex, posterior slope concave. Teleoconch sculptured with weak concentric growth lines. Shell colour white. Size: Up to 6.6 mm in length. Distribution: Known only from Australia; four lots off Sydney; one lot off Cape Howe to Lakes Entrance; also reported from Cape Jaffa, SA. Habitat: Known from 146-550 m. Probably lives on fish bones (Marshall, 1986). Comparison: With its very elongate shape, this species stands out among the deep water limpets. Remarks: Marshall (1983) described two similar species from New Zealand. The first of these, C. osteophilla, was found alive on fish bone. The second, C. kopua, was described only from one dead shell. Later, Marshall (1986) considered that C. kopua might be a synonym of C. coercita, in which case the range of C. coercita would extend to New Zealand. Figs. 1,2: Off Sydney, 393 m (C.139403) |
