About Oxystele sinensis (Gmelin, 1791)
This species is commonly known as the pink-lipped topshell, with the accepted scientific name Oxystele sinensis (Gmelin, 1791). It has a monomorphic purplish-black shell, with a crimson-colored inner lip. Fully mature adult shells range in size from 18 mm to 51 mm. This marine species is distributed along the South African coast, from False Bay to South Transkei, near the Mbashe River. In terms of ecology, small individuals that live in the intertidal zone are particularly preyed upon by rock lobsters. Larger individuals mostly escape this predation by migrating to deeper waters, where they gain a size-related refuge from the predator.
