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4996-1.jpg (110164 bytes)

 

 

Pisinna oblata (Laseron, 1954)

Description: Shell minute, spire convex in outline. Protoconch of 1½ whorls, sculptured with spiral rows of minute pits, with distinct junction with teleoconch. Teleoconch up to 3½ convex whorls; sculpture of very fine, close set, oblique axial growth lines or riblets, irregular and barely detectable on early whorls, well defined on last whorl. Aperture oval to D-shaped; outer lip with low, smooth varix externally. Colour deep reddish-purple in fresh shell, fading to yellow or fawn.

Size: Up to 2.3 mm in length.

Distribution: Endemic to Australia: Noosa Heads, Queensland, southwards and around southern Australia to Beachport, South Australia, including Tasmania.

Habitat: "Shallow sublittoral to 183 m" (Ponder & Yoo, 1976). Uncommon in beach washup.

Comparison: P. columnaria, which occurs only in Tasmania, is similar but more elongate. Also see the comparison under P. olivacea.

Synonymy: In early records this was misidentified as P. columnaria.

Remarks: This species varies in size, with small specimens, (such as the holotype, 1.46 mm long) in the north of the range, and larger shells in southern Australia.

Fig. 1: 4996-1 Western Port, Victoria (C.420241)

 

Copyright Des Beechey 2010