Micrelenchus tessellatus is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Trochidae, the top snails.MolluscaBase eds. (2026). MolluscaBase. Micrelenchus tessellatus (A. Adams, 1853). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=876685 on 2026-06-23
Description
The shell grows to a length of 5 mm.
Distribution This marine species is endemic to New Zealand and occurs off North, South and Stewart Island.
References
Hutton, F. W. (1873). Catalogue of the marine Mollusca of New Zealand with diagnoses of the species. Didsbury, Wellington. xx + 116 pp. Powell, A.W.B. 1979: New Zealand Mollusca: Marine, Land and Freshwater Shells. Collins, Auckland 500p (p. 57) Spencer, H.G.; Marshall, B.A.; Maxwell, P.A.; Grant-Mackie, J.A.; Stilwell, J.D.; Willan, R.C.; Campbell, H.J.; Crampton, J.S.; Henderson, R.A.; Bradshaw, M.A.; Waterhouse, J.B.; Pojeta, J. Jr (2009). Phylum Mollusca: chitons, clams, tusk shells, snails, squids, and kin, in: Gordon, D.P. (Ed.) (2009). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: 1. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia. pp. 161–254
External links World Register of Marine Species
Adams A. (1853 ("1851")). Contributions towards a monograph of the Trochidæ, a family of gasteropodous Mollusca. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 19: 150-192 Adams, A. & Angas, G. F. (1864). Descriptions of new species of shells, chiefly from Australia, in the collection of Mr. Angas. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 1864: 35-40 Finlay H.J. (1924). Additions to the Recent Molluscan Fauna of New Zealand. Transactions of the New Zealand Institute. 55: 517-526, pl. 52