PORT PHILLIP BAY


Striped-mouth Conniwink 

Bembicium nanum (Lamarck, 1822)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

See below for information.

Source: Museum Victoria (2006) Melbourne's wildlife: a field guide to the fauna of greater Melbourne. Museum Victoria and CSIRO Publishing.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Mollusca
Subphylum:
Conchifera
Superclass:
Visceroconcha
Class:
Gastropoda
Subclass:
Orthogastropoda
Superorder:
Caenogastropoda
Order:
Sorbeoconcha
Suborder:
Hypsogastropoda
Infraorder:
Littorinimorpha
Superfamily:
Littorinoidea
Family:
Littorinidae
Subfamily:
Bembiciinae
Genus:
Bembicium
Species:
nanum

General Description

Shell conical, wider than high. Lower part of shell white with narrow black stripes, upper part white to cream at the point (apex). Shell up to 2 cm across.

Biology

These conniwinks form groups in crevices and rock depressions. Two related species live underwater in sheltered areas on mud and sand.

Habitat

Upper intertidal zone on rocky reefs.

Reefs

Coastal shores

Distribution guide

Southern Australia.

Species Group

Sea snails and shells Snails

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

2 cm

Diet

Herbivore

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Species Code

MoV 4836

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Patullo, B.

Blair Patullo is Online Producer for marine projects at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Patullo, B., 2011, Striped-mouth Conniwink, Bembicium nanum, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 03 May 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/10934

Text: creative commons cc by licence