Melanella alertae is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Eulimidae. The species is one of many species known to exist within the genus, Melanella. Warén A. (2011). Checklist of Eulimidae. pers. com.
Description The length of the shell attains 4.5mm, its diameter 1.3 mm.
Distribution This marine species is endemic to New Zealand and occurs off south-eastern South Island, at depths between 475 m and 640 m
References
Dell, R. K. (1956). The archibenthal Mollusca of New Zealand. Dominion Museum Bulletin. 18: 1-235. page(s): 81 Powell, A.W.B. 1979 New Zealand Mollusca: Marine, Land and Freshwater Shells, Collins, Auckland Spencer, H.G., Marshall, B.A. & Willan, R.C. (2009). Checklist of New Zealand living Mollusca. Pp 196-219. in: Gordon, D.P. (ed.) New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume one. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch.
External links New Zealand Mollusca: image Spencer H.G., Willan R.C., Marshall B.A. & Murray T.J. (2011). Checklist of the recent Mollusca recorded from the New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone