Lepsiella scobina

Lepsiella scobina scobina
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Orthogastropoda
Infraclass:	Apogastropoda
Superorder:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Sorbeoconcha
Infraorder:	Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Muricoidea
Family:	Muricidae
Subfamily:	Ocenebrinae
Genus:	Lepsiella
Species:	L. scobina scobina
Trinomial name
Lepsiella scobina scobina (Quoy & Gaimard,1833)

Lepsiella scobina scobina, or the oyster borer, is a murex of the family Muricidae, endemic to New Zealand. It is very common intertidally in rocky areas.

The shell is small and very solid, prominently shouldered. It has a few bold spiral ridges, one on the spire-whorls, and three of primary strength on the body whorl. The whole surface is crowded with sharp crenulated lamellae. At regular intervals, stronger lamellae form into subspinose tubercles on the primary spirals, nine or ten on the body whorl. The aperture is rather smalll, the outer-lip thin edged and crenulated, but not lirate within.

Coloration is pale greyish or buff, with a speckled spiral pattern in dark brown. The interior of the aperture and parietal callus is purplish-brown.

Maximum height is 34 mm, and width 20 mm.

References

• Miller M & Batt G, Reef and Beach Life of New Zealand, William Collins (New Zealand) Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1973
• Powell A W B, New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1