Snail-Top, Purple  
Cantharidus purpureus
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Seaweed Gardens

Grazer Feeder

New Zealand

Unknown Edibility

Coin Sized
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Category: Invertebrate
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Family: Trochidae

Notes
This is a very similar shell to the Opal top shell, but it is of medium height and the body whorl is more angular. The shell colour is variableand ranges from greenish grey to pink and can be flecked with reddish streaks. It is less shiny than the Opal top shell and is more abundant, although they can be found together.


References
NZ Coastal Marine Invertebrates; Vol 1.
University of Otago 2013
Last Update: 24 April 2013