Lamellaria latens

(Müller, 1776)

Description (shell):
Shell flat, permanently covered by mantle; fragile, with two rapidly expanding whorls; spire not obvious, profile rather depressed; last whorl equivalent to height of shell. Aperture like that of Lamellaria perspicua but relatively larger.

Size:
Up to 5 x 9.5 mm.

Colour:
White (L. latens-photo).

Animal:
Body as in Lamellaria perspicua , but mantle smoother and less domed in profile; up to 10 x 6 mm. Tends to be buff with brown or black flecks but this is not a reliable guide to identification.

Habitat:
Fairly common under stones, in pools and on surfaces covered by compound ascidians; LWST down to 1200 m.

Distribution:
Distributed from Mediterranean to northern Norway and Iceland; widely distributed around British Isles (Distr. L. latens). Also reported off Helgoland by K. Janke (Harms, 1993).

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