Cantharidus capillaceus

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Mollusca · Class: Gastropoda · Order: Trochida · Family: Trochidae · Genus: Cantharidus.

Accepted name: Cantharidus capillaceus · Authority: (R. A. Philippi, 1849) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 598216.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Cantharidus (Cantharidus) capillaceus (R. A. Philippi, 1849); Cantharidus (Plumbelenchus) coruscans (Hedley, 1916); Cantharidus coruscans (Hedley, 1916); Cantharidus pruininus (A. A. Gould, 1849); Cantharidus pruininus var. perobtusa Pilsbry, 1889; Cantharidus pruninus (A. A. Gould, 1849); Cantharidus pruninus var. minor E. A. Smith, 1902; Cantharidus pruninus var. perobtusa Pilsbry, 1889; Cantharidus zealandicus A. Adams, 1853; Micrelenchus (Plumbelenchus) capillaceus (R. A. Philippi, 1849); Micrelenchus capillaceus (R. A. Philippi, 1849); Photinula coruscans Hedley, 1916; Trochus (Osilinus) capillaceus R. A. Philippi, 1849; Trochus capillaceus R. A. Philippi, 1849; Trochus episcopus Hombron & Jacquinot, 1848; Trochus pruninus A. A. Gould, 1849.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=598216 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Cantharidus capillaceus. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Habitat zone: benthic · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 173087) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Cantharidus-capillaceus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

242 georeferenced occurrence records for Cantharidus capillaceus are published through GBIF from 2 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 10 distinct locations from a sample of 242 records, omitting 2 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: New Zealand (211); Australia (31).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 4615645) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=4615645&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=598216 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Former subspecies within this species included:

Cantharidus capillaceus capillaceus, the nominate subspecies

Cantharidus capillaceus coruscans (Hedley, 1916): synonym of Cantharidus capillaceus

The length of the shell varies between 13 mm and 28 mm.

The imperforate shell has an ovate-conical shape. It is nearly smooth. Its sculpture consists of very fine dense spiral striae, leaving narrow and shallow grooves between them, sometimes nearly obsolete.

Colour: deep purple or reddish-grey, sometimes with a few white dots. The apex is usually pink. The epidermis is thin, often shining, easily rubbed off.

The spire is conical. Its sides are slightly convex. The apex is subacute. The protoconch is conoidal, consisting of 3 convex spirally striate whorls. The whorls number 6 to 7. They are slightly convex, the last rounded or obtusely angular. The base of the shell is flatly convex. The suture is linear, slightly impressed. The aperture is less than one-half the length of the shell.

within and lirate. The outer lip is convex, effuse on meeting the basal lip, with a sharp, finely denticulate edge. The columella is subvertical, with a slight swelling in the middle. The inner lip is expanded in a callous pad over the umbilical tract. There is a thin callus on the parietal wall.

This marine species endemic to New Zealand and occurs off Auckland and the Campbell Islands.

Source: Wikipedia: Cantharidus capillaceus — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantharidus_capillaceus (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.