Menathais tuberosa
©Lexie Gersbeck and Gabi Howarth: Menathais tuberosa from reef flat off small beach on NE side of South Island, Lizard Island Group. Enlarge image to see incised spiral grooves between the whorls of nodules. Thanks to Dr Richard Willan (NT Museum) for the identification.
©Lexie Gersbeck and Gabi Howarth: Menathais tuberosa from reef flat off small beach on NE side of South Island, Lizard Island Group.
©Lexie Gersbeck and Gabi Howarth: Menathais tuberosa from reef flat off small beach on NE side of South Island, Lizard Island Group.
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Neogastropoda
Family
Muricidae
Genus
Menathais
Species
Menathais tuberosa
Colours
Distinguishing features
Dr Richard Willan (NT Museum, 6 Aug 2019) notes that this species is characterised by a large shell (to 50 mm in length) which is globose in shape and it has a relatively low spire. It is the most globose of all the thaids. It is unique in having incised spiral grooves between the nodules.
Size
- Up to 5 cm (length)
Synonyms
Comments
The 1980s specimen label in one of the photos shows an incorrect identification. According to Dr Richard Willan (NT Museum, 6 Aug 2019), Thais luteostoma is a very different, smaller, Japanese species.
by Anne Hoggett
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
