Overview
Description: Shell light to medium in weight, whorls sharply angled. Nodules on the periphery strong on spire whorls, sometimes becoming indistinct on the body whorl. Sculptured with low spiral ribs with finer riblets between; about 14-20 on the penultimate whorl. Outer lip denticulate in mature shells, interior lirate; columella smooth.
Colour: Colour fawn or orange brown, often with a dark brown band on the periphery and two further indistinct bands below on the body whorl, with nodules white. Interior white, outer lip brown with white denticles. Covered with a thin brown periostracum; operculum corneous, leaf shaped.
Size: Up to 255 mm high.
Comparison of similar species living within its distribution/depth range:
Distribution: North-eastern North Island, from North Cape to Cape Runaway (see notes). Restricted endemic.
Depth: Living at 23-390 m on soft and hard bottoms.
Notes: The relationships of similar specimens from the southern North Island and northern South Islands (e.g. Penion jeakingsi) remain to be established.
References/more information:
Powell, A.W.B. (1979) New Zealand Mollusca. Marine, land and freshwater shells. Collins, Auckland (p. 200: as “Penion dilatatus dilatatus”).