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Gallery

Phylum

OC-SP-0002202

Stacked from 32 images. Method=B (R=8,S=4)

Species ID

OC-SP-0002202

Discovered

Phylum

Mollusca

Species ID

OC-SP-0002202

Provisional Species Name

Decipifus sp_MNHN_IM_2000_40376

Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS

Decipifus

Lowest Known Rank

Genus

Status

Discovered

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Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Mollusca

Class

Gastropoda

Order

Neogastropoda

Family

Columbellidae

Genus

Decipifus

Date Identified

19/01/2026

Taxonomic Remarks

The genus Decipifus has until now only members in the tropical West American, the Caribbean and the South-African provinces. The new species is based on shell characters closest to this genus and therefore tentativele placed in it. Decipifus consanguineus (Sowerby, 1897) from South-Africa is slighty bigger, has more teleoconch whorls, a more elongate protoconch, a lower number of more pronounced axial ribs, a less rounded aperture and a different color pattern. Most other Decipifus species are much bigger and have less and more pronounced axial sculpture than the new species.

Received All Minimal Data for Discovery

26/02/2026

Description of Material

Shell of small size for the genus, adult size up to 2.9 mm; fusifom, elongate. Slightly translucent. Slightly rounded whorls. Suture slightly impressed. Protoconch paucispiral, consisting of about 1.5 smooth whorls. Transition to teleoconch weakly visible. Teleoconch consisting of about three whorls. Axial sculpture on all whorls, consisting of close set axial ribs with narrow interspaces. On the first part of the first whorl, these ribs are obsolete. There are about 26-28 ribs on each whols. Last axial rib close to the aperture much stronger, sloping to the edge of the aperture. Spiral sculpture consisting of very close set spiral cords with very narrow interspaces. This sculpture is hardly visible on the first whorl, much clearer on the next whorls. There are about 10-11 cords on the first and second whorl. On the last whorl there are more of these cords going gradually over in the basal cords. Intersections of axial and spiral sculpture nodulous. Basal cords clearly present and reaching to just above the adapical end of the columella. Aperture average width for the genus, about 52% of shell height. Outside of outer lip with the continuation of the basal cords and the spiral sculpture. Inside of outer lip without a clear sinus and with 5-6 denticles. Adapical most denticles are stronger, abapical most are hardly visible. Columellar callus clearly present, abapical side with a slightly thickened rim. Parietal callus clearly present. Siphonal canal short, open, slightly recurved. Teleoconch whorls white with beige irregular markings. These beige markings occur the most just below the suture and on the abapical side of the last whorl. Aperture and columella white. Protoconch slightly translucent white. Height of holotype: 2.9 mm

Ecology

Direct developing species with paucispiral protoconch, so non planctotrophic larvae. Most likely endemic.

Distribution

MNHN Spanbios expedition: stn DW5259, 19°50,2’S, 165°33,4’E, 422-430m, 1 dd; stn DW5264, 20°28,6’S, 164°49,9’E, 332-335m, 1 dd (holotype).

Stacked from 32 images. Method=B (R=8,S=4)

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