PORT PHILLIP BAY


Kelp Shell 

Phasianotrochus eximius (Perry, 1811)

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
Order:
Vetigastropoda
Superfamily:
Trochoidea
Family:
Trochidae
Subfamily:
Trochinae
Genus:
Phasianotrochus
Species:
eximius

General Description

Shell smooth with a long pointed spiral end (spire). Colour patterns variable, usually green-brown with a light line spiral around the shell. Opening green with a thin lip. Shell up to 4 cm long.

Biology

Kelp Shells wash up on the beach and turn from green to red as they decay.

Habitat

Kelp and other seaweeds in rock pools, bays and coasts.

Reefs

Coastal shores

Distribution guide

Southern Australia.

Species Group

Sea snails and shells › Snails

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

4 cm

Diet

Herbivore

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Species Code

MoV 4873

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, Kelp Shell, Phasianotrochus eximius, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 26 Jun 2018, http://portphillipmarinelife.net.au:8098/species/10944

Text: creative commons cc by licence