Shells of South
East Queensland

Tweed Heads to Noosa
Cypraeidae

Nucleolaria nucleus

(Linnaeus, 1758)
Shell: small to moderately small, solid, ovate to elliptical , ranging from 13-25 mm. Spire concealed. Teeth: 15 columellar teeth; 21 labral teeth. Sculpture: shiny, porcelaneous; body covered with nodules; mantel line impressed; teeth extend from aperture to margins and onto the dorsum. Aperture elongate, narrow. Exterior colour pale blue grey; nodules lighter, ringed with yellow or tan; base and margins white, teeth highlighted in yellow or tan.


Specimens

Hendersons Reef,  Australia
 Size: 16.23mm    Collected: 2004
On reef in 15m of water. Also found some dead specimens in sand
Flat Rock,  Australia
 Size: 16.68mm    Collected: 2000
On reef in 15m of water. Also found some dead specimens in sand
Hutchinson,  Australia
 Size: 19.49mm    Collected: 1999
Collected from coral and rocky reef in 15m of water. Also collected a dead specimen.
Myrmidon Reef,  Australia
 Size: 20.15mm    Collected: 1986
No data
Lamont Reef,  Australia
 Size: 21.61mm    Collected: Unknown
Collected from intertidal coral reef at low tide.
Seringapatam Reef,  Australia
 Size: 18.54mm    Collected: Unknown
In coral and rubble at 20-25m by diver.
 Rare from this locality.
General Store,  Solomon Islands
 Size: 18.25mm    Collected: 2000
Collected from coral and rocky reef in 10m of water. Also collected a dead specimen.
Uepi Is Elbow Caves,  Solomon Islands
 Size: 18.01mm    Collected: 2000
On reef in 15m of water. Also found some dead specimens in sand
Uepi Point,  Solomon Islands
 Size: 13.76mm    Collected: 2005
On reef in 5m of water. Also found some dead specimens in sand
Honiara,  Solomon Islands
 Size: 23.5mm    Collected: 2015
collected by diver at night among live coral & rubble 8-10m
Marau Sound,  Solomon Islands
 Size: 25.33mm    Collected: 2015
collected by diver at night among live coral & rubble 8-10m
Port Vila,  Vanuatu
 Size: 21mm    Collected: Unknown
Purchased at local markets.
forma: gemmosa  (Perry, 1811)
 This form is from eastern Polynesia. Smaller, narrower with denser pustules.
 Niue,  Niue
 Size: 20mm    Collected: 2015
In rock pool amongst rubble at low tide.
forma: gemmosa  (Perry, 1811)
 This form is from eastern Polynesia. Smaller, narrower with denser pustules.
 Rangiroa,  French Polynesia
 Size: 16.67mm    Collected: Unknown
Under coral slabs at 5-7m depth.
forma: madagascariensis  (Gmelin, 1791)
 This form is from the Indian Ocean. Large, more cylindrical with more pronounced pustules.
 Pemba Island,  Tanzania
 Size: 22.7mm    Collected: Unknown
Collected at 2-3m depth among coral by local crayfish divers.
© South East Queenlsand Shells 2021.