Story: Shellfish

Micropilina rakiura

Micropilina rakiura

This rare New Zealand shellfish, the size of a breadcrumb, was collected from sediment deep under the ocean surface. It belongs to the monoplacophorans, an uncommon class of shellfish, long known as fossils. The first living monoplacophoran was discovered only in 1952, and like this New Zealand species, was living in deep-water sediment.

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Reference: I.006706

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How to cite this page:

Maggy Wassilieff, 'Shellfish - Chitons, tusk shells and rare classes', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/object/8036/micropilina-rakiura (accessed 24 April 2024)

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 12 Jun 2006