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Snail, Small Top

Micrelenchus tesselatus

Snail, Top, Black and Yellow Spotted

Invertebrate

Mollusca

Gastropoda

Trochidae

Rocky Shore Intertidal
Rocky Shore Intertidal
Rocky Reef Subtidal
Rocky Reef Subtidal

Feeding:
Grazer Feeder
Grazer Feeder
Distribution:
New Zealand
New Zealand
Edibility:
Rarely Eaten
Rarely Eaten
Size:
Coin Sized
Coin Sized



The shell is small, globular and smooth. It has a highly polished surface, the colour and pattern is very variable, but is often tesselated in dark grey on a light background. It is small, only 8 mm in height.


Common around boulders or the holdfasts of kelp on semi-exposed to exposed open, rocky coasts. In intertidal areas it is only found in rock pools.


It feeds on the microalagal films which cover the surfaces of rocks and on seaweed.


previously Cantharidus tesselatus



NZ Coastal Marine Invertebrates; Vol 1