| Alcyna kingensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Vetigastropoda |
| Order: | Trochida |
| Superfamily: | Trochoidea |
| Family: | Trochidae |
| Genus: | Alcyna |
| Species: | A. kingensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Alcyna kingensis (Gabriel, 1956) | |
| Synonyms | |
Cantharidus kingensisGabriel, C.J. 1956 | |
Alcyna kingensis, common name the King Island kelp shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Trochidae, the top snails. [1] This endemic Australian species reaches approximately 5-7 mm in shell diameter and is characterized by its globose-conical shape with intricate spiral sculpture. [2] Found exclusively in the Bass Strait region, particularly around King Island and northern Tasmania, it inhabits shallow subtidal kelp beds at depths of 2-15 meters. Like other trochids, A. kingensis grazes on microalgae and detritus, playing an important role in coastal ecosystem dynamics. [3] The species was first described by Petterd in 1879 based on specimens collected from King Island's eastern coast. [4]
