Zemelanopsis trifasciata facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Zemelanopsis trifasciata
Shells of Zemelanopsis trifasciata
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
(unranked):	clade Caenogastropoda clade Sorbeoconcha
Superfamily:	Cerithioidea
Family:	Melanopsidae
Genus:	Zemelanopsis
Species:	Z. trifasciata
Binomial name
Zemelanopsis trifasciata (Gray, 1843)
Synonyms
Melanopsis trifasciatus Gray, 1843 (original combination) Melanopsis trifasciata (Gray, 1843) Melanopsis zelandica Gould, 1843 Melanopsis strangei Reeve, 1860

The Zemelanopsis trifasciata is a special kind of freshwater snail. It belongs to a family of snails called Melanopsidae. This snail is unique because it is only found in New Zealand. This means it is endemic to that country. You can find it living in both fresh water and slightly salty water all over New Zealand.

Scientists first officially described this snail in 1843. The first place it was found and studied was near the Waitanga Falls. This spot is in Waitangi, Northland, which is part of the Bay of Islands in New Zealand.

What Does This Snail Look Like?

The shell of the Zemelanopsis trifasciata snail has a certain size. Its width, which is how wide it is across, can be between 11 and 17 millimeters. To give you an idea, 17 millimeters is about the width of a small button.

The height of the snail's shell, from top to bottom, is usually between 18 and 30 millimeters. So, the tallest shells are about 3 centimeters tall. That's roughly the length of a standard paperclip!

Where Does This Snail Live?

The Zemelanopsis trifasciata snail loves to live in certain places. You can find it in streams and rivers. It especially likes areas close to where these rivers meet the sea. These special places are called estuaries.

Estuaries are interesting habitats because they have a mix of fresh water from the river and salty water from the ocean. This snail is well-adapted to live in these unique conditions.