| Melanochlamys cylindrica | |
|---|---|
 | |
| In Pahurehure Inlet near Auckland | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Heterobranchia |
| Order: | Cephalaspidea |
| Family: | Aglajidae |
| Genus: | Melanochlamys |
| Species: | M. cylindrica |
| Binomial name | |
| Melanochlamys cylindrica Thomas Cheeseman, 1881 [1] | |
Melanochlamys cylindrica is a species of bubble snail in the family Aglajidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. [2]
M. cylindrica is found on the coast of New Zealand's North and South Islands. It is absent from the Three Kings Islands/Manawatāwhi due to a lack of suitable habitat. [3]
Adults are between 15 and 25 mm in length but may reach a maximum size of 30 mm. [3] Body is long and cylindrical in shape with a uniformly black colour that may feature an iridescent blue sheen. [4] The head shield is rounded with an indentation that may resemble two 'tails'. [3] The parapodia are small and held tightly against sides of body. [3] A large muscular mouth part (known as the buccal bulb) is contained in the anterior half of the body cavity. [4]
This species has a smaller than usual internal shell that is 6 mm long and 5 mm wide. The shell is ear-shaped without formed whorls. It is heavily calcified and contained within the posterior part of the body. [5] [6]
M. cylindrica is most commonly found in the mid-intertidal zone in algal turf and on rock platforms. [4] It may also be found down in shallow sub-tidal area. [3]
It feeds on polychaete worms including bristle worms and round worms by "rapidly sucking them in like a piece of spaghetti" which are then broken apart by a muscular gizzard. [3] [4]
Aglajidae is a family of often colorful, medium-sized, sea slugs, marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks. These are not nudibranchs; instead they are headshield slugs, in the clade Cephalaspidea.
Ercolania felina is a minute black species of sacoglossan or sap-sucking sea slug. It is a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Limapontiidae.
Vayssierea cinnabarea is a species of minute sea slug, a dorid nudibranch in the gastropod family Okadaiidae.
Chelidonura hirundinina is a species of small and colorful aglajid sea slug, a shell-less opisthobranch gastropod mollusk in the family Aglajidae.
Pupa affinis is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Acteonidae. It is found in the waters around the North Island of New Zealand.
Aplysia extraordinaria, common name the "extraordinary sea hare", is a very large species of sea slug, more specifically a sea hare, a marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusk in the family Aplysiidae, the sea hares. Its distribution includes the coast off of eastern Australia, northern New Zealand, and possibly a wider range.
Maxacteon hancocki is a species of small sea snail, a marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusk in the family Acteonidae, the barrel bubble snails.
Maxacteon milleri is a species of small sea snail, a predatory marine gastropod mollusc in the family Acteonidae, the barrel bubble snails.
Nepotilla vera is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Raphitomidae.
Stilla flexicostata is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Raphitomidae.
Melanochlamys is a genus of headshield slugs in the family Aglajidae. Despite the appearance of its species, this genus must not be confused with nudibranchs.
Rostanga muscula is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Discodorididae.
Trinchesia scintillans is a species of sea slug, an aeolid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Trinchesiidae.
Neoguraleus benthicolus is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Mangeliidae.
Neoguraleus finlayi is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Mangeliidae.
Neoguraleus oruaensis is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Mangeliidae.
Neoguraleus huttoni is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Mangeliidae.
Neoguraleus sandersonae is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Mangeliidae.
Maorimorpha secunda is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Mitromorphidae.
Taranis gratiosa is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Raphitomidae.
