Golden Limpet

"Nacella deaurata subspecies deaurata

(Gmelin, 1791)

(Pl. 73, fig. 11; Pls. 174, 175)

Range-Southern Patagonia, Straits of Magellan, Tierra del Fuego and Falkland Islands.

Remarks-The species is nearest allied to magellanica which is more broadly ovate in outline and lacks nodulation of the radials.

Description-Shell of moderate size, up to 61 mm. (2⅜ inches) in length, rather solid, tall conical, narrowly ovate, and with the apex at about the anterior third. Sculpture consisting of from 36 to 40 strong radial ribs, which are rendered strongly scabrous to nodular by numerous overriding concentric lamellose lirae. Colour yellowish-brown to reddish-brown, rending dark reddish-brown to bronze over the apical area. Interior silvery with a pinkish lustre, more or less rayed and mottled with reddish-bronze, the spatula and spotted marginal border dark red­dish-brown.

Measurements (mm.)-

length

width

height

61.0

43.0

27.0

Falkland Islands

57.0

43.0

24.0

Falkland Islands

48.0

34.0

19.5

Falkland Islands

Synonymy‑

1784 Patella aenea Martyn, Univ. Conch., vol. 1, fig. 17 (invalid).

1791 Patella deaurata Gmelin, Syst. Nat. ed. 13, p. 3719, based upon Martini-Chemnitz, Conch. Cab., vol. 10, p. 327, pl. 168, figs. 1616 a, b.

1854 Patella varicosa Reeve, Conch. Iconica, pl. 11, figs. 21 a-c.

1885 Nacella strigatella Rochebrune and Mabille, Bull. Soc. Phil. Paris, ser. 7, vol. 9, p. 110.

1891 Nacella (Patinella) aenea Martyn, Pilsbry, Man. Conch. vol. 13, p. 118, pl. 46, figs. 28-36.

1913 Helcioniscus bennetti Preston, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 8, vol. 11, p. 221, pl. 4, fig. 7.

1951 Patinigera aenea Martyn, Powell, Discovery Rep. vol. 26, p. 82."

(Powell, 1973: 195)

Nacella deaurata is a species of sea snail, a true limpet, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Nacellidae, one of the families of true limpets.