Stacked from 35 images. Method=B (R=8,S=4)
Stacked from 32 images. Method=B (R=8,S=4)
Species ID
OC-SP-0002564
Discovered
Phylum
Mollusca
Species ID
OC-SP-0002564
Provisional Species Name
Maintenonia sayaensis
Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS
Maintenonia
Lowest Known Rank
Genus
Status
Discovered
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Embargo
No
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Neogastropoda
Family
Columbellidae
Genus
Maintenonia
Taxonomic Remarks
The placement of this species in the genus Maintenonia Monsecour & Monsecour, 2024 is only tentatively made here. It shares about the same structure of the early teleoconch whorls, but is rather different in aperture form. Mitrella spiratella (E. von Martens, 1880) and even Zafra vexillum Bozzetti, 2008 clearly belong to the same group as the new species. As the placement in the genus Maintenonia is only tentatively made here, we don’t propose transfers from the known species to other genera. Genetic study of members of this group is needed to come to the correct conclusions. The new species differs from Zafra vexillum Bozzetti, 2008 by its bigger size, higher number of teleoconch whorls, much straighter whorls, more basal cords, a different form of aperture and a different color pattern. It differs from Mitrella spiratella (E. von Martens, 1880) by its bigger size, straighter whorls, thicker and less numerous axial ribs, absense of spiral sculpture, more elongate aperture with more basal cords and a different color pattern.
Received All Minimal Data for Discovery
01/04/2026
Description of Material
Shell of rather small size for the genus, up to 6.4 mm; biconical, elongate. Rather straight whorls. Suture slightly impressed. Protoconch paucispiral, of about 1.3 smooth whorls. Transition to teleoconch very weak, almost invisible. Teleoconch of about 6 whorls; Axial sculpture present on all teleoconch whorls and consisting of axial ribs with interspaces about the same width as the ribs. On the first whorls, these ribs are very weak, on later whorls these are stronger, about 11-12 axial ribs on each whorl. Spiral sculpture absent, apart from the basal cords, which are clearly present on last whorl, extending to just the adapical end of the columella. Aperture rather narrow and about 46% of shell height. Outer lip weakly thickened, bearing continuations of basal cords on abapical end. Seen from the side, the lip is not straight, with the middle of the lip standing much wider than the adapical end near the sinus. Inside of outer lip with a weak sinus, slightly thickened and not denticulate. Columellar callus almost absent, very weak over the basal cords, but basal cords stay clearly visible. Parietal callus weak near the columella, but strong near the adapical end of the aperture. Siphonal canal very short, half-open, slightly recurved. Teleoconch whorls with a narrow brownish band just below the suture, below this band a wider cream band, at about midhworl a narrow white band, just below this white band a narrow darker brown band and below this an orange-brown zone with on every axial rib a whitish dot in this lowest zone. Aperture with the outside shell color coming through. Columella in the orange-brown base color. Protoconch orange-brown. Height of holotype: 6.4 mm
Ecology
Direct developing species with paucispiral protoconch, so non planctotrophic larvae. Most likely endemic.
Distribution
MNHN SAYA expedition: Saya de Malha: stn YB01, 10°22,7’S, 62°07,7’E, 24m, 1 dd (holotype); stn YS16, 10°44’S, 62°00,4’E, 27m, 1 dd juv; stn YS18, 10°44’S, 62°00,8’E, 30m, 1 lv.
Scientific Name Authorship
Monsecour, Kevin
Stacked from 35 images. Method=B (R=8,S=4)
Stacked from 32 images. Method=B (R=8,S=4)
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