Pelicaria vermis

Pelicaria vermis, known as the small ostrich foot shell or takai in Māori, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Struthiolariidae.[1] It is the only extant species in the genus.

Pelicaria vermis
Dorsal view of a shell of Pelicaria vermis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Caenogastropoda
clade Hypsogastropoda
clade Littorinimorpha
Superfamily:
Stromboidea
Family:
Struthiolariidae
Genus:
Pelicaria
Species:
P. vermis
Binomial name
Pelicaria vermis
(Martyn, 1784)
Synonyms[1]
  • Buccinum vermis Martyn, 1784 (basionym)
  • Murex australis Gmelin, 1791
  • † Pelicaria mangaoparia Vella, 1953
  • † Pelicaria rotunda Vella, 1953
  • † Struthiolaria acuminata Marwick, 1924
  • † Struthiolaria convexa Marwick, 1924
  • Struthiolaria crenulata Lamarck, 1822
  • † Struthiolaria fossa Marwick, 1924
  • Struthiolaria inermis G.B. Sowerby I, 1821
  • † Struthiolaria media Marwick, 1924
  • Struthiolaria tricarinata Lesson, 1841
  • Struthiolaria vermis (Martyn, 1784)
  • Struthiolaria vermis bradleyi Neef, 1970
  • Struthiolaria vermis flemingi Neef, 1970
  • Struthiolaria vermis grahami Neef, 1970
  • Struthiolaria vermis powelli Neef, 1970
  • Struthiolaria vermis vellai Neef, 1970
  • Struthiolaria vermis wellmani Neef, 1970

Distribution & Habitat

This species is endemic to the North Island of New Zealand, where it lives just beneath the surface on tidal flats and off sandy beaches, occasionally to depths of 90m.

Shell of Pelicaria vermis, apertural view

Description

The shell height is up to 54 mm, and width up to 35 mm, colouring usually yellow brown, rarely plain yellow or purple.[2]

References
  1. Bouchet, P. (2011). Pelicaria vermis (Martyn, 1784). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=564560 on 2011-03-11
  2. Andrew Crowe, "Simple Guide to the Identification of New Zealand Sea Shells", Penguin 1999 ISBN 0140285458


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