About Haustrum haustorium (Gmelin, 1791)
This species is scientifically named Haustrum haustorium (Gmelin, 1791). A consistent, reliable feature to distinguish Haustrum haustorium from other species in the genus Haustrum is the angle at which the lip of its shell aperture attaches to the rest of the shell. In Haustrum haustorium, this insertion angle is nearly perpendicular. In other Haustrum species, the angle is more acute, measuring approximately 45 degrees. The most recent scientific review of this species was published by Tan in 2003. Haustrum haustorium is distributed in New Zealand. As a rock snail, its typical habitat is the mid and lower eulittoral zone of semi-exposed rocky intertidal shores in New Zealand. It occurs less frequently on sheltered shores that are dominated by algae.
