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Vexitomina metcalfei (Angas, 1867) Description: Shell elongate, whorls shouldered, concave above periphery, straight below. Elongate, oblique nodules on the periphery and sometimes a weaker row of similar but opposite sloping nodules just below the upper suture. Fine spiral ribs encircle whorls, two below periphery sometimes weakly beaded. Axial sculpture of broad, low ribs sometimes present below periphery of spire whorls. Body whorl bears numerous spiral ribs below periphery, usually flattened and broad, beaded where crossed by axial sculpture in strongly sculptured shells. Columella smooth; outer lip with rounded V shaped sinus above periphery. Colour cream to dark brown with lighter peripheral nodules. Size: Up to 20 mm in length. Distribution: Endemic to Australia; Port Stephens to Jervis Bay, NSW. Habitat: Most commonly found as dead beach shells, but lives down to 20 m. Uncommon. Comparison: Some specimens show sculpture similar to Epidorona hedleyi - peripheral and sub-sutural nodules and beading on the body whorl. But V. metcalfei is about half the width of specimens of E. hedleyi of equal length. There are also some similarities to E. tuberculata, but the sculpture in that species is always much finer. Fig. 1: Port Stephens, NSW, in 15 m (C.371418)
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