Haustrum scobina

Haustrum scobina, or the oyster borer, is a species of predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.[1] Oyster borers use a mucous layer that surrounds the entrance to their shell to prevent dessiccation in the midlittoral and high tidal zones. Oyster Borers are frequently found in crevices which have more protection from predators, higher water availability, lower temperature, extremes in salinity and protection from the sun and wind.

Haustrum scobina
Shell of Haustrum scobina (lerctotype at MNHN, Paris)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
(unranked):	clade Caenogastropoda clade Hypsogastropoda clade Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Muricoidea
Family:	Muricidae
Subfamily:	Haustrinae
Genus:	Haustrum
Species:	H. scobina
Binomial name
Haustrum scobina (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833)
Synonyms[1]
Lepsiella scobina (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833) Purpura rugosa Quoy & Gaimard, 1833 Purpura scobina Quoy & Gaimard, 1833 Purpura scobina var. rutila Suter, 1899 Purpura tristis Dunker in Dunker & Zelabor, 1866

Description

The length of the shell varies between 14 mm and 35 mm.

Distribution

It is endemic to New Zealand and is found off the North, South, Stewart and the Chatham Islands.[2] This species generally prefers inter-tidal zones, such as the Hauraki Gulf of Auckland, New Zealand.[3]

References

1. Haustrum scobina (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 24 April 2010.
2. "NZ Mollusca - Haustrum scobina". www.mollusca.co.nz. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
3. "Shellfish Identification Guide". Hauraki Gulf Forum. http://www.arc.govt.nz/albany/fms/main/Documents/Environment/Coastal%20and%20marine/Shellfish%20Identification%20Guide.pdf.

Further reading

• Miller M & Batt G, Reef and Beach Life of New Zealand, William Collins (New Zealand) Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1973
• Powell A. W. B., New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
• Beu, A. G. 1990. Molluscan generic diversity of New Zealand Neogene stages: extinction and biostratigraphic events. – Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 77: 279–288.
• Spencer, H.G., Marshall, B.A. & Willan, R.C. (2009). Checklist of New Zealand living Mollusca. Pp 196-219. in: Gordon, D.P. (ed.) New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume one. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia. Canterbury University Press,

External links

• Quoy J.R.C. & Gaimard J.P. (1832-1835). Voyage de découvertes de l'"Astrolabe" exécuté par ordre du Roi, pendant les années 1826-1829, sous le commandement de M. J. Dumont d'Urville. Zoologie. 1: i-l, 1-264; 2(1): 1-321 [1832; 2(2): 321-686 [1833]; 3(1): 1-366 [1834]; 3(2): 367-954 [1835]; Atlas (Mollusques): pls 1-93 [1833]. Paris: Tastu]
• Dunker [W. & Zelebor J. 1866. Bericht über die von der Novara-Expedition mitgebrachten Mollusken. Verhandlungen der Kaiserlich-Königlichen Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien, 16: 909-916]
• Tan, K. S. 2003. Phylogenetic analysis and taxonomy of some southern Australian and New Zealand Muricidae (Mollusca: Neogastropoda). – Journal of Natural History 37: 911–1028
• Beu A.G. (2004) Marine Mollusca of oxygen isotope stages of the last 2 million years in New Zealand. Part 1: Revised generic positions and recognition of warm-water and cool-water migrants. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 34(2): 111-265