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Sassia parkinsonia (Perry, 1811) Description: Shoulder of whorls bear 3 to 5 axially elongate nodules between each varix. Whole shell sculptured with fine, dense, granulose spiral riblets. Outer lip thickened, interior bearing five teeth in mature shells, the anterior one bifid. Columellar callus extends well beyond the aperture, smooth except for a tooth posteriorly and sometimes a pair of weak teeth anteriorly. Anterior canal open, slightly upturned. Colour cream to brown, the spiral riblets alternating white and brown. Shell covered with a thin brown periostracum when alive. Interior white. Operculum oval. Size: Up to 50 mm in length. Distribution: Australia and New Zealand. In Australia, from Caloundra, Qld, to Portland, Vic. Habitat: Occurs under stones on rocky shores intertidally and down to 140 m; uncommon intertidally, more common subtidally. (Coleman, 1975). Moderately common. Synonym: Austrotriton basilicus Iredale, 1924 is based on an elongate form from 50-70 fathoms off Green Cape, NSW. Figs. 1,2: Sydney Harbour, NSW (DLB1980)
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