Melanochlamys cylindrica is a species of bubble snail in the family Aglajidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.[2]
M. cylindrica is found on the coast of New Zealand's North and South Islands. It is absent from the Three Kings Islands/Manawatāwhi due to a lack of suitable habitat.[3]
Adults are between 15 and 25 mm in length but may reach a maximum size of 30 mm.[3] Body is long and cylindrical in shape with a uniformly black colour that may feature an iridescent blue sheen.[4] The head shield is rounded with an indentation that may resemble two 'tails'.[3] The parapodia are small and held tightly against sides of body.[3] A large muscular mouth part (known as the buccal bulb) is contained in the anterior half of the body cavity.[4]
This species has a smaller than usual internal shell that is 6 mm long and 5 mm wide. The shell is ear-shaped without formed whorls. It is heavily calcified and contained within the posterior part of the body.[5][6]
M. cylindrica is most commonly found in the mid-intertidal zone in algal turf and on rock platforms.[4] It may also be found down in shallow sub-tidal area.[3]
It feeds on polychaete worms including bristle worms and round worms by "rapidly sucking them in like a piece of spaghetti" which are then broken apart by a muscular gizzard.[3][4]
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The internal shell structure Melanochlamys cylindrica is a species of bubble snail in the family Aglajidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.
