Austrocochlea porcata facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Austrocochlea porcata

Thin striped variant

Wide striped variant
Scientific classification
Synonyms
Austrocochlea zebra Menke, K.T., 1829 Labio porcata A. Adams, 1851 (original description) Monodonta zebra var. porcata (A. Adams, 1853) Trochus extenuatus Fischer, 1876 Trochus taeniatus Quoy, H.E.T. & J.P. Gaimard, 1834

The zebra top snail, scientific name Austrocochlea porcata, is a medium-sized sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Trochidae, the top snails, also known as top shells.

Shell description

The size of the shell varies between 20 mm and 43 mm. The shell has a black-and-white banded pattern overlying a light grey to white shell. It is very similar to that of the southern ribbed top snail, Austrocochlea constricta, and until recently the two species were considered to be identical. The aperture is less dilated, than in Austrocochlea constricta. The columellar tubercle is obsolete.

Distribution

This marine species is endemic to Australia and occurs off Central Queensland to West Australia and also off Tasmania.

Donald K.M., Kennedy M. & Spencer H.G. (2005) The phylogeny and taxonomy of austral monodontine topshells (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Trochidae), inferred from DNA sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 37: 474-483

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Austrocochlea porcata Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.