Pictobalcis

Pictobalcis is a currently monotypic genus in the family Eulimidae.[1] As of 2016 the only known species is P. articulata.

Pictobalcis articulata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Caenogastropoda
Superfamily:
Eulimoidea
Family:
Eulimidae
Genus:
Pictobalcis

Laseron, 1955
Species:
P. articulata

G. B. Sowerby I, 1834
Synonyms

Eulima articulata G. B. Sowerby I, 1834

Description

Pictobalcis articulata is the largest eulimid occurring in its range, with a high turretellid-like polished shell patterned in wavy vertical lines of chestnut brown or dark red on a background of cream to dark red, up to 26mm in length.[2] Unlike other eulimids this species is coastal, from low intertidal down to 30 metres deep. The animal is ectoparasitic like other genera in the family, but due to its rarity it has not been studied and the host or hosts it depends on are not known. Empty shells are washed into tide pools or found inhabited by hermit crabs.

Distribution

Occurs in Australia off New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria, also the north-eastern coast of the North Island and the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand, and Norfolk Island. Has been reported from Japan and the Philippines,[3] and empty shells have been reportedly found in New Caledonia.[4]

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gollark: I have no idea how fast I can read, unfortunately.
gollark: I'm pretty sure you can manage 400 or so at maximum, if you have something moving the text for you so you don't have to manually scan across it.
gollark: No, I mean 900 WPM is implausibly high.
gollark: That's implausibly high.

References
  1. Bouchet, P. (2014). Pictobalcis. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=537157 on 2014-12-25
  2. Cook, Steve De C., “New Zealand Coastal Marine Invertebrates Vol 1”, Canterbury University Press, NZ 2010, IBSN 978-1877257-60-5
  3. http://www.conchology.be/?t=68&u=793300&g=01ddee59216b7ff1b844f740834a5353&q=e9be850fa1cc016f2e23ae20ac59c0db
  4. http://seashellsofnsw.org.au/Eulimidae/Pages/Pictobalcis_articulata.htm
  • Laseron, C. 1955. Revision of the New South Wales eulimoid shells. The Australian Zoologist 12(2): 83-107, pls 1-3, figs 1-78
  • Warén A. (1984) A generic revision of the family Eulimidae (Gastropoda, Prosobranchia). Journal of Molluscan Studies suppl. 13: 1-96.


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