Clanculus undatus
Wavy top shell
Distribution
Temperate Australasia
Description
Shell being squat and rounded in shape, with a beaded spiral sculpture, and having one or more prominent teeth on the columella. Numerous rows of fine granules around the shell and a red-brown basal colour with darker spots. The animals remain in crevices and under rocks during the day but move about quite rapidly in the open at night.
Information
Max Size: 3 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 10.3-20.7°C
Depth: 0-15m
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: Frequent (12.7% 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 (4 per transect)
Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: GJ Edgar. 2008. Australian Marine Life. New Holland, Sydney