| Columbellidae (dove shells) |
| 1.2 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
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benthic; marine; depth range 55 - 2811 m |
| Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. |
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Shell up to 8.5 mm, broadly fusiform. Protoconch globose, formed by 3.5 moderately convex whorls, bulging over the profile of the spire, bearing a very fine reticulate pattern of oblique theads hardly visible under the optical microscope. Teleoconch of ca. 4 convex whorls; sculpture of broad, low and flexuous axial ribs as broad as the interspaces, and a very fine spiral microsculpture; towards the base there are some more definite spiral striae. On the last whorl the ribs extend from the suture to far below the periphery and tend to disappear on the final part of the whorl. Aperture oval, prolonged in a broadly open siphonal canal. Outer lip bordered externally by a strong varix, internally with a few very faint denticles which may be absent on subadult or juvenile specimens. Parietal edge bordered by a narrow and appressed callus, continued onto the columellar edge. Colour whitish in deeper water, with brown flames on specimens collected on the upper part of seamounts (Ref. 87872). |
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Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
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