Haminoea zelandiae

Haminoea zelandiae, or the white bubble shell, is a species of medium-sized sea snail or bubble snail, a marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusc in the family Haminoeidae, the bubble snails.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is found around the North Island and the northern part of the South Island.

Habitat

This bubble snail is common on intertidal mudflats in sheltered situations associated with eel grass.

Description

The shell is globose, thin and fragile, white under a thin, pale yellowish-brown periostracum.

The shell height is up to 27 mm, and width up to 22.5 mm.

The animal is translucent with variable colouring, from pale with black dots, to a uniform grey or black. The parapodia folds up and envelops most of the shell.

See also

• Haminoeidae

References

• Powell A. W. B., New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
• Glen Pownall, New Zealand Shells and Shellfish, Seven Seas Publishing Pty Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 85467-054-8