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SIPHONARIIDAE |
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Siphonaria diemenensis Quoy & Gaimard, 1833 Description: Shell varying from moderately tall to tall in height, usually eroded. Sides straight or convex, apex nearly central. Sculptured with 15-35 strong primary radial ribs more or less equal in strength, sometimes projecting at margin, and secondary ribs between. Ribs white, interspace between ribs brown or black when not eroded. Interior with horseshoe-shaped muscle scar; shallow siphonal groove from apex to margin on right side, 70-80 degrees from anterior. Interior with margin dark brown or black crossed by white stripes corresponding to external ribs and the remainder white or fawn. Size: Up to 29 mm in length. Distribution: Endemic to Australia: Sydney, NSW, southwards and around southern Australia to Port Le Hunte, SA (on the Vic – SA border), including Tas. Habitat: Lives on rocks over most of the intertidal zone. It is extremely abundant in Victoria, reaching densities up to 1000 per square metre, but is rare around Sydney, which is the northern limit of its range. Comparison: See S. denticulata. Remarks: The ecology of this species was described by Quinn (1988a, 1988b). Fig. 1: 7387-1 Sussex Inlet, NSW (C.368691)
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