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Nassarius conoidalis (Deshayes, 1832)

Description: Shell solid and heavy, whorls rounded. Whole surface heavily nodulose, with nodules in axial and spiral rows; 15-33 axials on body whorl. Spiral sculpture of strong ribs, 4-5 on penultimate whorl and 8-10 on body whorl. Outer lip with strong lirae descending into aperture. Columellar callus strong, spreading onto body whorl, wrinkled, free standing anteriorly. Anterior notch deep, posterior notch prominent. Uniformly straw-yellow, fawn or light brown in colour, body whorl occasionally with two broad brown bands; interior and callus white or cream.

Size: Up to 31 mm in length.

Distribution: Indo-West Pacific; in Australia, North West Cape, WA, to Sydney Harbour, NSW.

Habitat: Usually subtidal, down to 120 m. Rare in NSW.

Synonym: Niotha comtessei Iredale, 1929 was assigned to specimens dredged from Sydney Harbour.

Remarks: Specimens from Sydney Harbour are probably subfossil. The present southern limit of distribution is about Clarence River, NSW.

Figs. 1,2: Off Iluka, NSW (C.376743)

 


Copyright Des Beechey 2000