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ISCHNOCHITONIDAE |
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Ischnochiton (Ischnochiton) versicolor (Sowerby, 1839) Description: Animal elongate ovate, girdle moderately broad. Median valves with lateral and pleural areas well defined; lateral areas raised, with 3-4 strong ribs divaricating towards the side; pleural areas with dense, curved threads, weak at top becoming strong towards margin. Girdle densely covered with large ridged scales, up to 0.5 mm wide. Colour variable; mostly greenish brown with a symmetrical pattern of whitish streaks on dorsum; some specimens uniformly white, fawn, brown or bluish green, sometimes maculated or splashed with darker colours. Size: Up to 60 mm in length. Distribution: Endemic to Australia: Taree, NSW, southwards to Robe, SA. Habitat: Lives in the low intertidal and shallow subtidal, under rocks and stones and other hard substrates. Common. Comparison: This species is distinguished by the strong radial ribs on the lateral areas of the valves, and the large scales on the girdle. See Ischnochiton (Ischnochiton) elongatus. Fig. 1: Gabo Is., Vic, on rocks at 21 m (C.unreg). Fig. 2: a. Shelly Beach, Manly, NSW. (DLB5592). b. Arrawarra, North of Woolgoolga, NSW (C.367958). c. Forster, NSW (C. 367959). d. Murrumbulga, Twofold Bay, NSW (C.367945). Fig. 3: Shell sculpture detail, same specimen as Fig. 1 Fig. 4: Girdle scale detail, same specimen as Fig. 1 |
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