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Cystiscus freycineti (May, 1916)

Diagnosis: Shell minute, colourless transparent to opaque white; spire low; outer lip thickened internally, smooth; external varix absent; siphonal notch absent; posterior notch absent; lacking collabral parietal callus ridge; columella with three plaits/lirae.

Size: About 2 mm in length

Distribution: Australian Museum collection: only 3 lots - off Sydney 55-91 m; off Crookhaven 55-64 m; Freycinet Peninsula , Tasmania ,73 m.  Literature: NSW, Victoria , Tasmania , SA, in 73-366 m.  Uncommon.

Comparison: This species is similar in size to C. angasi, but is more cylindrical and has only three columellar plaits.  It is similar in size to small specimens of C. connectans, again differentiated by shape and number of plaits.

Remarks: This is an uncommon subtidal species, not reported from beach collections.  

Fig. 1: Thouin Bay, Freycinet Peninsula, Tasmania, in 73 m PARATYPE (C.039474)

Copyright Des Beechey 2004