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Hinemoa ligata (Angas, 1877)

Description: Shell small, wide, spire convex in outline, up to 5 teleoconch whorls, last whorl more than ½ total shell length. Protoconch (type B) coiled, of about 2 whorls, set on teleoconch with axis inclined at more than 90° to teleoconch. Spire whorls sculptured with 2 very strong spiral cords, last whorl with another similar cord level with top of aperture and sometimes several weaker cords on base. Aperture broad, columella with moderate strength plait. Shell pink when fresh, slightly translucent, fading to opaque white with age.

Size: Up to 2.3 mm in length.

Distribution: See Remarks below.

Habitat: In the Sydney region, known from beach washup and from algae and rock washings from the intertidal down to 20 m. Common.

Remarks: Shells conforming with this description occur around all of the Australian coastline and have also been reported from Japan, Papua New Guinea and the Kermadec Islands. Two species have been named from southern Australia: Hinemoa tasmanica (Tenison-Woods, 1877) was described from southern Tasmania and Hinemoa ligata (Angas, 1877) was described from Sydney Harbour. The characterisation and distribution of these two species is not known. Laseron (1951, p. 317) regarded shells from Sydney as H. tasmanica but Iredale & McMichael (1962, p. 85) regarded them as H. ligata. I have used the name H. ligata here as its type locality  is Sydney Harbour.

Fig. 1: Little Manly Beach, Sydney Harbour (C.342050. Operculum in aperture).

 

Copyright Des Beechey 2017