Stacked from 26 images. Method=B (R=8,S=4)
Species ID
OC-SP-0002201
Discovered
Phylum
Mollusca
Species ID
OC-SP-0002201
Provisional Species Name
Aesopus sp_MNHN_IM_2000_40361
Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS
Aesopus
Lowest Known Rank
Genus
Status
Discovered
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Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Neogastropoda
Family
Columbellidae
Genus
Aesopus
Date Identified
19/01/2026
Taxonomic Remarks
This is the first very small species of Aesopus, not belonging to the Aesopus (Lavesopus) group found in deep water around New Caledonia. Aesopus jaffaensis (Verco, 1910 from South Australia and Tasmania shares the semi-translucent shell and general outline, but this species is of bigger size, has more rounded whorls, a higher number of teleoconch whorls and no spiral or axial sculpture. Other species from Eastern Australia currently assigned to Aesopus are of much bigger size and have clear axial and/or spiral sculpture.
Received All Minimal Data for Discovery
26/02/2026
Description of Material
Shell of small size for the genus, adult size up to 2.5 mm; fusifom, elongate. Slightly rounded whorls. Semi-translucent. Suture slightly impressed. Protoconch paucispiral, consisting of about 1.2-1.3 smooth whorls, rather high spired. Transition to teleoconch very weak. Teleoconch consisting of 3.0 whorls. Axial sculpture on all whorls, consisting of very weak slightly convex growth lines. Spiral sculpture consisting of two very fine subsutural bands and hardly visible spiral cords on the rest of the whorls. This spiral sculpture is rather obsolete on the first whorl. The basal cords are clearly present and reach to about the adapical edge of the columella. Aperture average width for the genus, about 42% of shell height. Convex when seen from the side. Outside of outer lip with continuation of the spiral sculpture. Inside of outer lip without a clear sinus and without denticles. Columellar callus thick, without denticulation. Parietal callus clearly present. Siphonal canal short, open, slightly recurved. Teleoconch whorls and aperture semi-translucent white. Columella less translucent. Protoconch not-translucent white. Height of holotype: 2.5 mm
Ecology
Direct developing species with paucispiral protoconch, so non planctotrophic larvae. Most likely endemic.
Distribution
SPANBIOS expedition MNHN: stn CP5221, 18°41,7’S, 163°06,1’E, 826-850m, 1 dd (holotype).
Stacked from 26 images. Method=B (R=8,S=4)
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