Cominella adspersa explained

Cominella adspersa, the speckled whelk or kawari in Maori, is a predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cominellidae.^{[1] [2]}

Description

The length of the shell varies between 25 mm and 75 mm.^{[3] [4]}

The oblong-ovate shell is of a red brown color. It is furrowed throughout its whole extent by regular transverse striae, numerous, pretty near, interwoven by other very fine longitudinal striae. The pointed spire is composed of seven whorls. Each whorl, except the lowest, is adorned with longitudinal tubercles or ribs. The columella projectis a little above an incipient umbilicus, which penetrates it at the base of the emargination. The ovular aperture is provided with a callosity upon the left lip, which is of a beautiful reddish color. The pouter lip is arched, plaited upon the internal edge as often as there are striae externally.^[5]

Distribution

Cominella adspersa is endemic to New Zealand and is found along the coast of North Island, northern South Island, and the Chatham Islands.

Habitat

The species inhabits the mid to low tidal zone and can be found at depth of up to 20m.^[6]

External links

• http://www.mollusca.co.nz/speciesdetail.php?speciesid=1086&species=Cominella%20adspersa
• http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/whelk-speckled/1
• http://northamericanlandsnails.org/WIFreshwaterSnailskey/glossaryofsnailterms.html

Notes and References

1. Fraussen, K. (2015). Cominella adspersa (Bruguière, 1789). In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=490921 on 2016-05-02
2. 10.1111/bij.12529 . Phylogeography of the whelk genus Cominella (Gastropoda: Buccinidae) suggests long-distance counter-current dispersal of a direct developer . Biological Journal of the Linnean Society . 115 . 315–332 . 2015 . Donald . Kirsten M. . Winter . David J. . Ashcroft . Anna L. . Spencer . Hamish G. . 2 . free .
3. [Arthur William Baden Powell|Powell A. W. B.]
4. Willan, R.C., de C. Cook, S., Spencer, H.G., Creese, R.G., O’Shea, S., Jackson, G.D. Phylum Mollusca. In: de C. Cook, S.C. (eds.), New Zealand Coastal Marine Invertebrates 1, 401 – 405. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch, New Zealand
5. https://archive.org/details/generalspeciesic00kien Kiener (1840). General species and iconography of recent shells : comprising the Massena Museum, the collection of Lamarck, the collection of the Museum of Natural History, and the recent discoveries of travellers; Boston :W.D. Ticknor,1837
6. Book: Carson, Sally F. . Collins field guide to the New Zealand seashore . . Rod Morris . 2017 . 978-1-77554-010-6 . Auckland, New Zealand . 189 . English . 1012909625.