Oyster borer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Haustrum scobina
Shell of Haustrum scobina (lerctotype at MNHN, Paris)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
(unranked):	clade Caenogastropoda clade Hypsogastropoda clade Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Muricoidea
Family:	Muricidae
Subfamily:	Haustrinae
Genus:	Haustrum
Species:	H. scobina
Binomial name
Haustrum scobina (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833)
Synonyms
Lepsiella scobina (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833) Purpura rugosa Quoy & Gaimard, 1833 Purpura scobina Quoy & Gaimard, 1833 Purpura scobina var. rutila Suter, 1899 Purpura tristis Dunker in Dunker & Zelabor, 1866

Haustrum scobina, or the oyster borer, is a species of predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails. Oyster borers use a mucous layer that surrounds the entrance to their shell to prevent dessiccation in the midlittoral and high tidal zones. Oyster Borers are frequently found in crevices which have more protection from predators, higher water availability, lower temperature, extremes in salinity and protection from the sun and wind.

Description

The length of the shell varies between 14 mm and 35 mm.

Distribution

It is endemic to New Zealand and is found off the North, South, Stewart and the Chatham Islands. This species generally prefers inter-tidal zones, such as the Hauraki Gulf of Auckland, New Zealand.