About Cominella maculosa (Martyn, 1784)
The shell of Cominella maculosa reaches lengths between 30 mm and 45 mm. The shell is ovate and conical, with a bluish ash color. It is crossed by spaced-out lines that are patterned with connected oblong black points. The spots on the upper whorls are larger, flame-shaped, and vary in number from individual to individual. The spire is made up of seven slightly convex whorls, joined by a fairly fine, regular linear suture. The aperture is oblong ovate, slightly oriented lengthwise, smooth, and colored chamois-yellow. The outer lip is thin and sharp. This marine species is endemic to New Zealand. It can be found off the North Island, the northern portion of the South Island, and the Chatham Islands. It lives in mid to low tidal zones down to a depth of 16 m.
