Dicathais orbita

Muricidae
Dog Whelk
  • Dicathais orbita, Adelaide, SA, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
    Dicathais orbita, Adelaide, SA, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
  • Dicathais orbita, Adelaide, SA, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
    Dicathais orbita, Adelaide, SA, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
  • Dicathais orbita, Narooma, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
    Dicathais orbita, Narooma, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
  • Dicathais orbita, Narooma, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
    Dicathais orbita, Narooma, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
  • Dicathais orbita, Juvenile, Batemans Bay, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
    Dicathais orbita, Juvenile, Batemans Bay, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
  • Dicathais orbita, Chain of Bays, SA, Photo: Andrew Green
    Dicathais orbita, Chain of Bays, SA, Photo: Andrew Green
  • Dicathais orbita, 1 of 2. Wilsons Promontory, Vic, Photo: Andrew Green
    Dicathais orbita, 1 of 2. Wilsons Promontory, Vic, Photo: Andrew Green
  • Dicathais orbita, 2 of 2. Wilsons Promontory, Vic, Photo: Andrew Green
    Dicathais orbita, 2 of 2. Wilsons Promontory, Vic, Photo: Andrew Green
  • Dicathais orbita, 1 of 2. Wilsons Promontory, Vic, Photo: Andrew Green
    Dicathais orbita, 1 of 2. Wilsons Promontory, Vic, Photo: Andrew Green
  • Dicathais orbita, 2 of 2. Wilsons Promontory, Vic, Photo: Andrew Green
    Dicathais orbita, 2 of 2. Wilsons Promontory, Vic, Photo: Andrew Green
Distribution
Temperate Australasia
Description

Shell shape varies with location, but the widest shells with deep grooves occur in New South Wales, and pear-shaped shells with low ridges occur in exposed habitats. The species is an important predator on rock platforms, controlling population numbers of barnacles and mussels in many areas. As with all gastropods, if possible photograph the aperture (as well as the animal in situ), to confirm identification.

Information
  • Max Size: 8 cm
  • Sea Temperature Range: 12.0-23.5°C
  • Depth: 0-10m
  • Habitat: Rocky Reef
Rarity
  • IUCN Threat Status: Not Evaluated
  • Occurrence: Common (43% 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 (3 per transect)
    Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: Andrew Green
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