Liracraea otakauica is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Mangeliidae.

There is one subspecies: Liracraea odhneri benthicola Dell, 1956

Description

Liracraea otakauica is a small marine gastropod mollusk characterized by a slender, elongate-conic shell. The shell reaches a length of approximately 7.8 mm and a diameter of about 2.7 mm.

The sculpture of the shell includes numerous fine axial ribs intersected by spiral cords, producing a reticulate or cancellate surface pattern. The whorls are convex, with well-marked sutures. The aperture is narrow and elongate, with a distinct siphonal canal, and the outer lip is sharp and simple.

The protoconch is smooth, suggesting planktotrophic larval development. The shell is generally off-white or pale cream in color, which is typical for deep-sea mangeliid species. Internal anatomy and soft-body morphology remain poorly documented, as is common for many deep-water conoidean gastropods.

Distribution This species is endemic to New Zealand occurs off Otago, within South-eastern South Island, Chatham Islands and Mernoo Bank, from 40-555m.

Some recorded Localities Source: 250-300 metres, Head of Waitaki Canyon, off Oamaru, NZ *98 530-590 metres, Head of Karitane Canyon, off Taiaroa Head, NZ *98 110 metres, off Taiaroa Head, NZ, (holotype) 550 metres, Taiaroa Canyon, off Taiaroa Head, NZ *98 105 metres, NE of Cape Saunders, off Otago Peninsula, NZ 220 metres, off Taiaroa Head, NZ *98 550-600 metres, Papanui Canyon, off Otago Peninsula, NZ 220-350 metres, Papanui Canyon, off Otago Peninsula, NZ 360 metres, Saunders Canyon, off Otago Peninsula, NZ 150 metres, off Taieri, S of Dunedin, NZ 140 metres, SE of Nugget Point, SSW of Dunedin, NZ

References

External links Tucker, J.K. 2004 Catalog of recent and fossil turrids (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Zootaxa 682:1–1295. Powell, A.W.B. 1942 The New Zealand Recent and fossil Mollusca of the family Turridae with general notes on turrid nomenclature and systematics, Auckland Institute and Museum Bulletin, 2 (p.149) (first original description)