''Myllita stowei'' is a species of

bivalve Bivalvia (), in previous centuries referred to as the Lamellibranchiata and Pelecypoda, is a class of marine and freshwater molluscs that have laterally compressed bodies enclosed by a shell consisting of two hinged parts. As a group, bival ...

, a

marine Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean. Marine or marines may refer to: Ocean * Maritime (disambiguation) * Marine art * Marine biology * Marine debris * Marine habitats * Marine life * Marine pollution Military * ...

gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, from freshwater, and from land. T ...

mollusc Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is esti ...

in the family

Lasaeidae Lasaeidae is a family of very small saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the order Galeommatida. These bivalves are sometimes called "kelly clams", because one of the genera in this family is ''Kellia''. Genera and species Genera and s ...

. It was first described as ''Pythina stowei'' by

Frederick Wollaston Hutton Captain Frederick Wollaston Hutton (16 November 1836 – 27 October 1905) was an English-New Zealand scientist who applied the theory of natural selection to explain the origins and nature of the natural history of New Zealand. An army ...

in 1873, and recategorised as ''Myllita stowei'' in 1913 by Henry Suter. It is endemic to the waters of New Zealand.

Description

''Myllita stowei'' has an elongated appearance relative to other

species, and has divaricating ridges on the exterior shell. The species reaches up to 15 millimetres in length and 9 millimetres in height. Shells of the species have between eight and nine divaricating ribs along the shell. The foot is pear-shaped and white in colour.

Distribution

The species is Endemic to New Zealand. ''Myllita stowei'' is uncommonly found around central and northern New Zealand, and less commonly around the South Island. The bivalve is typically attached to the undersides of intertidal boulders. It is more commonly discovered as a shell, with living specimens being extremely rare finds.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3790461 Gastropods described in 1873 Gastropods of New Zealand Endemic fauna of New Zealand Endemic molluscs of New Zealand Lasaeidae Molluscs of the Pacific Ocean Taxa named by Frederick Hutton (scientist)