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Lyria pattersonia (Perry, 1811) Description: Shell glossy, with rounded whorls, all of which bear strong axial ribs, 13-20 on the body whorl, initially uniform but uneven in width and spacing on last half of body whorl. Columella with 3 plaits anteriorly; columella finely lirate above plaits to about centre; nodule at posterior end of columella sometimes present. Outer lip smooth, thickened externally. Background colour cream, with spiral brown lines on top of ribs and well defined on outer lip; three broad spiral brown bands on body whorl; markings irregular on many specimens. Size: Up to 32 mm, typically about 27 mm. Distribution: Norfolk Is. and possibly mainland NSW. In mainland NSW, known from only a few specimens of questionable locality data. Habitat: Most specimens beach collected; known live intertidally and down to about 10 metres. Moderately common on Norfolk Is. Synonymy: This species has been known as Lyria nucleus (Lamarck, 1811), but Bail & Poppe (2004) showed that Perry's name was published four months earlier than Lamarck's. Lyria peroniana Iredale, 1940 was applied to two specimens from Newcastle, NSW, collected pre-1889 (Figs. 1,2). These are the only NSW specimens held by the Australian Museum. Limpus (pers. comm.) indicates that he holds one other specimen with a NSW locality label, but he doubts the accuracy of the location. Remarks: It is unlikely that this species actually occurs on mainland NSW. Given the intensive collecting on the NSW coast since 1889, further specimens are likely to have been found if a breeding population exists on the mainland. It is most likely that the Newcastle specimens are mislocalised. Fig. 1 Syntype 1 of Lyria peroniana. ?Newcastle, pre 1889 (C.011472) Fig. 2 Syntype 2 of Lyria peroniana. ?Newcastle, pre 1889 (C.011472) |
