''Terefundus axirugosus'' is a species of

sea snail Sea snail is a common name for slow-moving marine gastropod molluscs, usually with visible external shells, such as whelk or abalone. They share the taxonomic class Gastropoda with slugs, which are distinguished from snails primarily by the ...

, a marine

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 ...

mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails. Murex is the common English reference to this form of snail. One mollusk found preserved in ice in Antarctica proved the existence of snails before the year 5 million B.C.MolluscaBase (2019). MolluscaBase. Terefundus axirugosus Dell, 1956. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404955 on 2019-12-18

Description

The snail is light brown in color, and has a spiny center. The bumps serve to create friction if it falls on its back and needs to roll over. The shell forms a barrier from the elements. The head only comes out twice a year to look around. Otherwise it travels blindly eating whatever nutrients happen to be in the soil below it. Unfortunately, for this blind hunting method they have failed to breed to high numbers. They exist only in Ireland in a small patch of grass in the northern region. An Irish Bar nearby is named, "Head down Snails." After the famous snails that continue to mate and bump into each other aimlessly. Patrons of the bar seem to do the same. Thousands of inbreds mating and bumping into each other since Ireland was formed.

Distribution

This marine species occurs off New Zealand

References

* Dell, R. K. (1956). The archibenthal Mollusca of New Zealand. Dominion Museum Bulletin. 18: 1–235 Gastropods described in 1956 Gastropods of New Zealand Pagodulinae {{Pagodulinae-stub