Liracraea otakauica

Liracraea otakauica
Holotype, collected in 110 metres, off Taiaroa Head, Otago, NZ (MA71011). © Auckland Museum (CC-BY)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Conoidea
Family:	Mangeliidae
Genus:	Liracraea
Species:	L. otakauica
Binomial name
Liracraea otakauica Powell, 1942

Liracraea otakauica is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Mangeliidae. ^[1]

There is one subspecies: Liracraea odhneri benthicolaDell, 1956

Description

Liracraea otakauica is a small marine gastropod mollusk characterized by a slender, elongate-conic shell. The shell reaches a length of approximately 7.8 mm and a diameter of about 2.7 mm. ^[2]

The sculpture of the shell includes numerous fine axial ribs intersected by spiral cords, producing a reticulate or cancellate surface pattern. The whorls are convex, with well-marked sutures. The aperture is narrow and elongate, with a distinct siphonal canal, and the outer lip is sharp and simple.

The protoconch is smooth, suggesting planktotrophic larval development. The shell is generally off-white or pale cream in color, which is typical for deep-sea mangeliid species. Internal anatomy and soft-body morphology remain poorly documented, as is common for many deep-water conoidean gastropods.

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand occurs off Otago, within South-eastern South Island, Chatham Islands and Mernoo Bank, from 40-555m.

Some recorded Localities

Source: ^[3]

• 250-300 metres, Head of Waitaki Canyon, off Oamaru, NZ *98
• 530-590 metres, Head of Karitane Canyon, off Taiaroa Head, NZ *98
• 110 metres, off Taiaroa Head, NZ, (holotype)
• 550 metres, Taiaroa Canyon, off Taiaroa Head, NZ *98
• 105 metres, NE of Cape Saunders, off Otago Peninsula, NZ
• 220 metres, off Taiaroa Head, NZ *98
• 550-600 metres, Papanui Canyon, off Otago Peninsula, NZ
• 220-350 metres, Papanui Canyon, off Otago Peninsula, NZ
• 360 metres, Saunders Canyon, off Otago Peninsula, NZ
• 150 metres, off Taieri, S of Dunedin, NZ
• 140 metres, SE of Nugget Point, SSW of Dunedin, NZ

References

1. "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Liracraea odhneri A. W. B. Powell, 1942". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
2. Powell, A.W.B. (1942). The New Zealand Recent and Fossil Mollusca of the Family Turridae. Vol. 2. Auckland Institute and Museum Bulletin. p. 149.
3. "NZ Mollusca - Liracraea otakauica". www.mollusca.co.nz. Retrieved 10 June 2025.

External links

• Tucker, J.K. 2004 Catalog of recent and fossil turrids (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Zootaxa 682:1–1295.
• Powell, A.W.B. 1942 The New Zealand Recent and fossil Mollusca of the family Turridae with general notes on turrid nomenclature and systematics, Auckland Institute and Museum Bulletin, 2 (p.149) (first original description)
• Powell, A.W.B. 1979: New Zealand Mollusca: Marine, Land and Freshwater Shells, Collins, Auckland
• 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.