Golden volute

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Golden volute
Iredalina mirabilis.JPG
Golden volute, Iredalina mirabilis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
(unranked):
Superfamily:
Muricoidea
Family:
Genus:
Iredalina

Finlay, 1926
Species:
I. mirabilis
Binomial name
Iredalina mirabilis
Finlay, 1926
Synonyms

Iredalina aurantia Powell, 1954

The golden volute, Iredalina mirabilis, is a species of rare, large, deepwater sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Volutidae, the volutes.

This is the only species in the genus; in other words, Iredalina is a monotypic genus.

Distribution[]

This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is found off the east coast.

Habitat[]

This volute lives at depths of between 180 and 700 m, although empty shells are sometimes found in shallower water, presumably carried there by hermit crabs.

Shell description[]

This rare shell is highly prized by collectors.

The shell height is up to 140 mm, and the width up to 48 mm.

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 0-85467-054-8
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