Cabestana tabulata
Fringed triton
Similar Species
Same Genus
Distribution
Temperate Australasia
Description
Distinctive dark hairy covering, the periostracum. It is smaller than Cabestana spengleri and has a broader shape, finer ridges, and flatter nodules than its close relative. The shell is often worn (lacking hairs) and covered in coralline algae, but this species can still be identified by the reddish foot with white spots, if the overturned animal is examined quickly before the foot retracts behind the operculum. This triton feeds on ascidians and is most often seen on moderately exposed coasts.
Information
Max Size: 10 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 10.5-23°C
Depth: 0-30m
Habitat Generalization Index: N/A
Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.
Conservation and Rarity
IUCN Status: Not Evaluated
Occurrence: Infrequent (9.2% of sites)
Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
Abundance: Few (2 per transect)
Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: Rick S-S and Graham Edgar