About Phasianotrochus eximius (Perry, 1811)
The shell of Phasianotrochus eximius ranges in height from 20 mm to 40 mm. It is imperforate, solid, and rather thick, with an elongated-conical shape, and has a polished, shiny surface. The shell is colored brown, fawn, or rosy, with widely spaced narrow spiral lines that are either light or dark; there are typically four of these lines on the penultimate whorl. Under magnification, the shell surface shows dense, fine spiral striae. The slender spire has straight sides, and the apex is sharp. There are 7 slightly convex whorls, and the body whorl is rounded at its periphery. The ovate aperture is slightly more than one-third of the shell's total length, and is brightly iridescent and grooved on the inside. The greenish peristome is thickened, and the vertical columella has a tooth below its middle. This is a marine species that is endemic to Australia. It occurs in intertidal and subtidal zones, growing on seaweed off the coasts of New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, and Western Australia.
