Xymene mortenseni mortenseni is a subspecies of predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Muricidae, the rock snails or murex snails.

Distribution

This murex subspecies is endemic to New Zealand's Auckland Islands.

Habitat

This snail is found intertidally, and to depths of about 10 m.

Shell description

The shell is narrowly fusiform, with a moderately tall spire and a long straight, slightly oblique siphonal canal. Sculpture consists of strong blunt axials, 12 or 13 on the last two whorls, crossed by almost equally strong spiral cords, the interstices broader than high. The surface is crossed by dense, fine, axial lamellae. The aperture is small, narrowly ovate, with a dentate ridge within the outer lip.

Coloration is dull creamy-white, and brown tinged within the aperture.

Height is up to 14.5 mm, and width up to 6.5 mm.

References

• Powell A W B, New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1