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Tasmatica schoutanica (May, 1912)

Description: Shell moderately solid, spire low. Whorls rounded, sutures weakly impressed. Sculpture restricted to obsolete, obliquely axial growth lines. Aperture entire; inner lip straight, smooth, with callous extending onto previous whorl and half closing the large umbilicus. Broad, low funicle present in umbilicus. Outer lip of aperture smooth. Colour white or fawn, with, in fresh specimens, brown patches below the suture and irregular brown axial lines. Operculum calcareous, with a marginal spiral groove.

Size: Up to 5 mm in length.

Distribution: Endemic to Australia; Cairns, Qld, to Great Australian Bight.

Habitat: Subtidal, to 284 m. Uncommon.

Synonym: Iredale introduced Notocochlis schoutanica diatheca Iredale, 1936 for a shell from northern NSW, on the basis that the umbilical funicle differed from that of Tasmanian shells. However, the strength of the funicle varies considerably within NSW specimens, with diatheca falling within the range of variation, so the subspecific name is unnecessary.

Figs. 1,2: Off Eden, NSW (C.359666)

 


Copyright Des Beechey 2000