#2414 - Diloma aethiops - Spotted Top Snail
AKA scorched monodont, spotted black topshell, and in te reo Māori pūpū, pūpū-mai, or māihi. Synonyms and previous binomials include Diloma gaimardi, Diloma (Melagraphia) aethiops, Melagraphia aethiops, Monodonta lugubris and Trochus bernardi, cingulatus, gaimardi, lugubris, sulcatus, and aethiops.
A small Trochid endemic to New Zealand, most often found in rocky intertidal areas, especially on open rock surfaces where it is the only trochid found. Also seen in sheltered areas, semi-exposed coasts and in harbours or estuaries where it co-occurs with Diloma subrostrata on hard packed mud among empty bivalve shells.
Most Trochids are intertidal or shallow subtidal herbivores, found on hard surfaces.
Paritutu Rock, New Plymouth, New Zealand