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Afrolittorina praetermissa (May, 1909) Description: Shell variable in height to width ratio, usually eroded. Whorls rounded, body whorl rounded (Figs.1,2) or angled at periphery. Sculptured with 13-16 spiral grooves above periphery and faint grooves on base. Columella smooth, excavated; outer lip thin. Colour whitish, cream or pale blue-grey, tessellated or marbled with grey-brown or dark brown pattern. Aperture brown with white band internally near base. Operculum corneous. Size: Adults 8.2-19.4 mm in height. Distribution: Endemic to Australia; Burrill Lake, NSW, around southern Australia to Cowaramup, south-western WA, including Tasmania. Habitat: On exposed and semi-exposed shores, around the high tide mark. Abundant in southern Australia, rare in NSW. Comparison: This is like a patterned version of Austrolittorina unifasciata. Synonymy: Some authors have used the name Littorina paludinella (Reeve, 1857), but that is an incorrect identification. Remarks: This species is most common in western Victoria and Tasmania, less common in eastern Victoria, and known from only three juvenile specimens from NSW. Figs. 1,2: London Bridge, near Port Campbell, Victoria (C.387216) |
