PORT PHILLIP BAY


Southern Wentle-trap 

Opalia australis (Lamarck, 1822)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

See below for information.

Source: Museum Victoria (2006) Melbourne's wildlife: a field guide to the fauna of greater Melbourne. Museum Victoria and CSIRO Publishing.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Mollusca
Subphylum:
Conchifera
Superclass:
Visceroconcha
Class:
Gastropoda
Subclass:
Orthogastropoda
Superorder:
Caenogastropoda
Order:
Sorbeoconcha
Suborder:
Hypsogastropoda
Infraorder:
Ptenoglossa
Superfamily:
Epitonioidea
Family:
Epitoniidae
Genus:
Opalia
Subgenus:
Opalia
Species:
australis

General Description

Shell white-grey with thick ridges from the opening to the tip. Opening with thickened ridge around the edge. Shell up to 4 cm long.

Biology

Southern Wentle-traps are carnivores, feeding on sea anemones and their relatives.

Habitat

Under rocks at the low tide level.

Reefs

Coastal shores

Distribution guide

Southern Australia.

Species Group

Sea snails and shells › Snails

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

4 cm

Diet

Omnivore

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Species Code

MoV 4831

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Patullo, B.

Blair Patullo is Online Producer for marine projects at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Patullo, B., 2011, Southern Wentle-trap, Opalia australis, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Feb 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/10942

Text: creative commons cc by licence