Creature of the week
White Rock Shell
Neothais scalaris
70 mm
Photos David Gray@MERC
Note two eye stalks and yellow feelers.
White Rock Shell
Neothais scalaris
70 mm
Description:
Shell is solidly built, pale yellowish brown or reddish brown but as pictures show, it can be
coloured by lichens and barnacles. It has a strong ribbed spiral but the ribbing can vary. The mouth of
the shell is creamy yellow.
Habitat:
Mid to low tide, in crevices and under rocks.
Diet:
Carnivore – feeding on green lipped and other mussels and the large barnacles (Elminius
plicatus). The rock shell is able to bore into these shells using a combination of tough file-like
teeth and an acid secretion which dissolves the calcium of the prey’s shell. Once the hole is bored,
a long trunk is inserted, gastric juices poured in –to dissolve the flesh which is then sucked out of the
prey !
Reproduction:
Sexual - The carnivorous snails place their eggs in groups in small tough capsules commonly
seen under stones and in crevices.
References:
Morton and Miller “ The New Zealand Sea Shore”