Micrelenchus purpureus

Micrelenchus purpureus, common name the red opal top shell, is a species of medium-sized sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Trochidae.^[1]

Micrelenchus purpureus
Apertural view of a shell of Micrelenchus purpureus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Vetigastropoda
Order:	Trochida
Superfamily:	Trochoidea
Family:	Trochidae
Genus:	Micrelenchus
Species:	M. purpureus
Binomial name
Micrelenchus purpureus (Gmelin, 1791)
Synonyms
Cantharidus (Mawhero) purpureus (Gmelin, 1791) Cantharidus purpureus (Gmelin, 1791) Helix purpurea Gmelin, 1791 (basionym) Micrelenchus (Mawhero) purpureus (Gmelin, 1791)· accepted, alternate representation Phasianella rubella Menke, 1828 Trochus elegans Gmelin, 1791 Trochus pallidus Hombron & Jacquinot, 1848 Trochus rostratus Gmelin, 1791 Trochus texturatus Gould, 1849 Trochus torosus Kiener, 1850

Description

The length of the shell varies between 16 mm and 32 mm. It grazes on seaweed.

Distribution

This marine species occurs off North Island and South Island, New Zealand.