Puncturella harrisoni is a marine gastropod mollusk belonging to the family Fissurellidae, commonly referred to as keyhole limpets. Members of the genus Puncturella are characterized by a cap-shaped shell with a distinctive apical or subapical opening (the “keyhole”) that functions in exhalant water flow.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Mollusca
- Class: Gastropoda
- Clade: Vetigastropoda
- Superfamily: Fissurelloidea
- Family: Fissurellidae
- Genus: Puncturella
- Species: Puncturella harrisoni
General Characteristics
While specific morphological details for P. harrisoni are not extensively documented in readily accessible scientific literature, the species can be inferred to share the typical features of its genus: a small to medium-sized shell, often with radial sculpture, and a perforation near the summit of the shell.
Distribution and Habitat
Insufficient encyclopedic information is available regarding the precise geographic distribution, depth range, and ecological preferences of Puncturella harrisoni. Species in the genus are generally found on rocky substrates in marine environments, from intertidal zones to deeper waters.
Research and Literature
The original description and taxonomic authority for Puncturella harrisoni are not widely cited in major molluscan databases or recent taxonomic revisions, indicating that the species may be rare, poorly studied, or potentially synonymized with another taxon.
Note
Due to the lack of detailed, verifiable data, further research—such as examination of type specimens, consultation of original taxonomic publications, or molecular analyses—would be required to provide a comprehensive account of Puncturella harrisoni.
