Sassia verrucosa
Verrucose triton
Distribution
Temperate Australasia
Description
Small species of triton with a spire just more than half the length of the shell and with strong ribs crossed by ridges to give a lattice-like effect over the shell surface. The species is common in cryptic habitats such as under rocks and among encrusting plants and animals. A closely related species, S.eburnea, with finer sculpture and generally a pink top to the spire, is moderately common in Victoria and Tasmania.
Information
Max Size: 3 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 11.2-22.9°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: Infrequent (5.3% 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 (5 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