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Clanculus brunneus Adams, 1853

Description: Whorls slightly rounded, with beaded spiral ribs and fine oblique lamellae between them. Base flattened, beaded. Basal margin sharply angled and keeled. In mature shells, outer lip thickened internally, lirate along the whole length, with a broad, low nodule at upper end; columella plicate with a large tooth at lower end. Umbilicus widely open. Colour pink to brown with lighter splashes; body whorl keel alternating brown and white.

Size: Up to 13 mm high, 16 mm wide.

Distribution: Endemic to Australia; Woolgoolga, NSW, to Twofold Bay, NSW.

Habitat: Under rocks on the open coast, from low tide down to at least 10 m.

Comparison: Clanculus limbatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1834) is a similar shell from southern Australia, with a northernmost limit of Twofold Bay, NSW. It is larger, taller and more coarsely sculptured than Clanculus brunneus.

Figs. 1,2,3: Honeymoon Beach, Jervis Bay, NSW (C.350075)