Atalacmea fragilis

Atalacmea fragilis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Patellogastropoda
Family:	Lottiidae
Genus:	Atalacmea
Species:	A. fragilis
Binomial name
Atalacmea fragilis (G.B. Sowerby I, 1823)
Synonyms
Patella fragilisG.B. Sowerby I, 1823 Patella unguisalmae Lesson, 1830 Patella solandriColenso, 1844 Acmaea fragilis Suter, 1913

Atalacmea fragilis is a species of sea snail or true limpet, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Lottiidae, one of the families of true limpets.

Description

(Described in French as Patella unguisalmae) The shell is translucent, fragile, oval in shape, and very depressed, almost flat, with a claw-shaped apex set far back and marked like a small point. The margin is regular, thin, and smooth. The upper surface is covered with raised, regular concentric circles that gradually increase in size, being very small at first around the apex.

The inner surface is slightly concave, smooth, and edged with an emerald-green ring. The exterior is green with brown circles, while the interior ground is slightly reddish. This attractive limpet reaches a maximum length of eight lines (18 mm.), a width of seven lines (15.8 mm), and a height of one and a half lines (3.4 mm). ^[1]

Distribution

This marine species occurs off New Zealand.

References

1. Lesson R.P., 1831 Histoire naturelle des Mollusque, Annélides et Vers recueillis dans Voyage autour du monde exécuté par ordre du roi sur la corvette de S.M. La Coquille pendant les années 1822, 1823, 1824, et 1825, sér. Zoologie, vol. 2(1), p. 471 p., 16 pls This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .

• Colenso, W. (1844). "Memoranda of an excursion made in the northern island of New Zealand in the summer of 1841–2; intended as a contribution towards the ascertaining of the natural productions of the New Zealand groupe: with particular reference to their botany". The Examiner, Launceton. Subsequently Reprinted in Tasmanian Journal of Natural Science, Agriculture, Statistics, &c. 2: 210–234.
• Nakano T. & Ozawa T. (2007). Worldwide phylogeography of limpets of the order Patellogastropoda: molecular, morphological and paleontological evidence. Journal of Molluscan Studies 73(1): 79–99
• Spencer, H.G., Marshall, B.A. & Willan, R.C. (2009). Checklist of New Zealand living Mollusca. Pp 196-219. in: Gordon, D.P. (ed.) New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume one. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch
• Maxwell, P. A. (2009). Cenozoic Mollusca. Pp 232-254 in Gordon, D. P. (ed.) New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume one. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch

External links

• Sowerby I, G.B. (1821–1834). The genera of recent and fossil shells, for the use of students, in conchology and geology. Published in 42 parts. Vol. 1, pls 1-126 [1821-1825]; vol. 2, pls 127-262 + text (unpaginated) [1825-1834]. London: G.B. Sowerby I. p. pl. 140 fig. 6. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
• Powell A. W. B., William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland 1979 ISBN   0-00-216906-1