Ranellidae – Cymatiinae: Cabestana spengleri (Perry, 1811) (‘Spengler’s rock-whelk’)

Synonym(s): spengleri Perry, 1811 boltenianus A. Adams, 1854 barthelemyi Bernardi, 1857 procerum Iredale, 1929.

Typical shell-length 180 mm. Very variable in shell size, shape and thickness. Larger size, tapered spire and (when alive) scaly periostracum help to distinguish this species from C. tabulata. Lives intertidally and subtidally amongst rocks and seaweed, from very sheltered to very exposed environments. Native. Occurs in southern and eastern Australia (QLD, NSW, TAS, VIC and SA); also New Zealand. In Tasmanian waters, this is a widespread and common species, especially in the S.